Modern businesses are becoming more and more reliant on technology, and this is something that has led to cybersecurity becoming more of a prominent issue. There are so many things that threaten businesses these days, with cybercrime being the biggest concern for so many companies. This has made it more important than ever for businesses to take the right steps to look after their cybersecurity.
One of the best ways of being able to protect your company against cyber threats is by obtaining Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation. In this blog post, we will look to explore exactly what this is, as well as what the benefits of it are, how to earn it, and what is involved in the process. So, here are some of the best ways of being able to acquire Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation.
What is Cyber Essentials Plus?
Cyber Essentials Plus differs from Cyber Essentials slightly, mainly in the fact that it is a more in-depth process. Specifically, this is an accreditation scheme that has been developed by the UK government to help companies protect themselves against cybercrime. It is a more advanced version of the Cyber Essentials scheme that involves an independent assessment of a business’s cybersecurity measures. This is an important part of the process when it comes to looking after your company’s future moving forward.
The accreditation verifies that the company has implemented the best possible range of cybersecurity measures, such as firewalls, malware protection, secure configuration, and more. In addition, there will also be an assessment of the company’s cybersecurity system by an outside auditor who is unrelated to your company.
Benefits of Cyber Essentials Plus
Cyber Essentials Plus comes with many benefits, and is one of the best ways of being able to protect your company against cyber attacks. By implementing the relevant security measures needed for accreditation, you can reduce the risk your business is facing, and this is something that you need to get right as much as possible.
What’s more, government contracts, which are highly coveted for businesses, now require companies to have Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation to even be able to bid on these contracts, so this is well worth doing. Another core benefit of Cyber Essentials Plus is that it helps your business illustrate that you are professional, that you take matters of cyber security more seriously, and that you are complying with data protection regulations, etc.
How to Earn the Cyber Essentials Plus Accreditation
Earning the Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation is a massive step for businesses, and something that will require you to obtain certification in order to achieve. The first step will be a self-assessment of your company’s cybersecurity measures, and getting this assessment verified by an independent assessor. Once you obtain your Cyber Essentials certification, you can then apply for Cyber Essentials Plus.
The Cyber Essentials Plus assessment is a more detailed evaluation of your company’s security measures. An independent auditor is then going to conduct an on-site assessment to verify that your company’s cybersecurity measures are being properly implemented.
Why You Need Cyber Essentials Plus Accreditation
Obtaining Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation is essential for businesses looking to protect against cyber threats, as well as remaining competitive in the marketplace. Cyberattacks are becoming more and more prominent these days, and many companies across the country are at risk from targeted attacks.
According to a recent report of UK data breach statistics, 39% of businesses reported some form of cyberattack or breach in 2021. Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation helps to protect against cyberattacks and demonstrates to clients and stakeholders that you do as much as possible to take cybersecurity steps seriously.
Cyber Essentials and Government Contracts
As previously mentioned, Cyber Essentials Plus is mandatory for UK businesses interested in bidding on government contracts. In fact, the UK government requires all suppliers bidding for contracts that involve handling sensitive data to have Cyber Essentials Plus certification. This is essential for any company looking to develop a positive presence when it comes to bidding on government contracts.
This is a wonderful way of being able to position your business as an attractive prospect for government contracts, and put yourself in the best possible position to be securing these bids as successfully as possible. This is why you have to make sure your company is vigorously protected against cybercrime as effectively as you can.
What is involved in a Cyber Essentials Plus audit?
Preparing for a Cyber Essentials audit is an important step in the process when you are looking to make your company more secure, and enhance your reputation as much as possible. This is something that you need to make sure you focus on as much as you can, and understanding the audit, and what it involves, is one of the most important steps you can take to make the most of this process.
The Cyber Essentials Plus audit involves an independent assessment of the company’s cybersecurity measures, and well you make use of the cybersecurity toolkit you have to work with. The audit verifies that the company has implemented a range of cybersecurity measures, such as firewalls, secure configuration, access control, malware protection, and patch management.
What is the difference between Cyber Essentials Plus and ISO 27001?
Cyber Essentials Plus and ISO 27001 are both cybersecurity frameworks, but there are some key differences between the two. Cyber Essentials Plus is a more basic framework that focuses on the implementation of fundamental cybersecurity measures. It is designed to provide a baseline level of cybersecurity protection for businesses.
ISO 27001, on the other hand, is a more comprehensive framework that provides a systematic approach to managing information security risks. It covers a wide range of cybersecurity measures, including risk management, access control, cryptography, and business continuity. ISO 27001 is a more advanced framework that is suitable for larger organizations or those with more complex cybersecurity needs.
Why Cybersecurity is so Integral for Business
Cybersecurity is integral for businesses because it helps to protect against cyber threats, which can have severe consequences. Cyber attacks can result in financial loss, damage to a company’s reputation, and legal liability. They can also cause significant disruption to business operations.
In addition, cybersecurity is becoming increasingly important for compliance with data protection regulations. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requires businesses to implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect against data breaches. Failure to comply with GDPR can result in significant fines and legal liability.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation is an essential step for businesses that want to protect against cyber threats and remain competitive in the marketplace. It helps to demonstrate to clients and stakeholders that your business takes cybersecurity seriously and has taken the necessary steps to protect against cyber threats.
Cyber Essentials include many components that are crucial for looking after your company’s cybersecurity, and it is important to make the most of this as much as possible. By implementing the cybersecurity measures required for accreditation, you can significantly reduce the risk of a successful cyber attack and protect your business against the potentially severe consequences of a cyber attack.
FAQs
Here are some of the main FAQs people typically tend to have about Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation, how it impacts their business, and how they can make it work for them. Being able to improve this process is so important, and these are some of the questions you will certainly have about Cyber Essentials Plus.
Q: What is the difference between Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus?
A: Cyber Essentials is a self-assessment certification scheme, while Cyber Essentials Plus requires a third-party assessment of a business’s cybersecurity measures. Cyber Essentials Plus provides a higher level of assurance that a business has implemented effective cybersecurity measures.
Q: Why should you get Cyber Essentials?
A: Cyber Essentials certification demonstrates to clients and stakeholders that your business takes cybersecurity seriously and has implemented effective measures to protect against cyber threats. It can also increase your business opportunities, as Cyber Essentials certification is often a prerequisite for bidding on government contracts.
Q: Why become Cyber Essentials certified?
A: Becoming Cyber Essentials certified demonstrates to clients and stakeholders that your business takes cybersecurity seriously and has implemented effective measures to protect against cyber threats. It can also increase your business opportunities, as Cyber Essentials certification is often a prerequisite for bidding on government contracts.
