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Cyber Essentials Plus is a government-backed scheme that helps businesses to protect themselves from cyber attacks.
Cyber Essentials Plus builds upon the foundation of Cyber Essentials.
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Offering a higher level of assurance for organisations seeking greater security validation.
While both certifications focus on the same five key technical controls (firewalls, secure configuration, access controls, malware protection, and patch management), Cyber Essentials Plus goes a step further.
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The key difference is that Cyber Essentials Plus involves a hands-on technical audit conducted by an independent assessor. This audit verifies that the security controls are correctly implemented and effective in protecting the organisation's systems.
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Cyber Essentials Plus is a simple and effective way to demonstrate the security of your organisation.
The Cyber Essentials audit is the specific component that makes up the Cyber Essentials Plus certification. Here's what it involves:
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Purpose:To verify that the five essential technical security controls (firewalls, secure configuration, access controls, malware protection, and patch management) are correctly implemented and functioning as intended.
To provide a higher level of assurance than the self-assessment questionnaire used in standard Cyber Essentials.
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Auditor:The audit is conducted by an independent, qualified assessor from a certification body accredited by the UK's National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).
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Vulnerability Scan: The assessor typically uses a vulnerability scanning tool to identify potential weaknesses on a sample of your systems.
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Technical Checks: The assessor will manually verify a range of security configurations, including firewall settings, user permissions, anti-malware software, and patch levels.
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Simulated Attacks: The audit might include simulated phishing attacks or other tests to assess your defences against common cyber threats.
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Here are the key benefits of Cyber Essentials Plus over Cyber Essentials:
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Increased Assurance: Cyber Essentials Plus provides a higher level of trust due to the independent technical audit, ensuring that security controls are properly in place and offer genuine protection.
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Enhanced Security Posture: The hands-on audit helps identify and fix potential vulnerabilities that a self-assessment questionnaire might miss, strengthening your actual security posture.
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Greater Customer Confidence: The more rigorous certification boosts confidence among customers, partners, and stakeholders, demonstrating a stronger commitment to cybersecurity.
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Competitive Advantage: Cyber Essentials Plus can be a significant differentiator when bidding on contracts, especially those in sectors where security is paramount, or when working with organisations that require a higher level of security assurance.
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Demonstrate your security commitment. Contact us for a free Cyber Essentials Plus consultation.