Cyber Essentials (CE)
As a certified Cyber Essentials provider, Cyndicate Labs supports organisations through the Cyber Essentials process, helping you understand the requirements, define your scope, assess your controls and address gaps before submission.
For organisations that need additional assurance beyond the self-assessment, we can also support wider security testing, remediation guidance and preparation for Cyber Essentials Plus.
Cyber Essentials certification support & security services
Cyndicate Labs helps organisations prepare for, achieve and maintain Cyber Essentials certification.
Cyber Essentials is a UK Government-backed cyber security certification scheme designed to help organisations protect themselves against the most common cyber attacks. It is based on five core technical controls: firewalls and routers, secure configuration, user access control, malware protection and security update management.
5 core controls
Cyber Essentials is built around five technical controls that help protect organisations from common cyber attacks.
Annual certification
Cyber Essentials is an annually renewable certification.
UK Government-backed
Cyber Essentials is a UK Government-backed certification scheme.
Self-assessment first
Cyber Essentials is completed through a verified self-assessment questionnaire.
Why choose a Cyber Essentials-certified cyber security provider?
01
Baseline security
Cyber Essentials helps organisations implement clear baseline security controls that reduce exposure to common internet-based attacks.
02
Compliance readiness
Certification can support supplier assurance, procurement requirements and customer confidence, particularly where Cyber Essentials is requested as part of tenders or contracts.
03
Risk reduction
The scheme focuses on practical controls that help reduce the risk of common cyber attacks, including weaknesses caused by poor configuration, excessive access, missing updates and inadequate malware protection.
04
Clear controls
Cyber Essentials gives organisations a defined set of controls to work towards, making it easier to understand what needs to be implemented, evidenced and maintained.
What is Cyber Essentials?
Cyber Essentials is a UK Government-backed certification scheme designed to help organisations protect themselves from common cyber attacks.
The scheme is based on five core technical controls. These cover firewalls and routers, secure configuration, user access control, malware protection and security update management.
Cyber Essentials is completed through a verified self-assessment questionnaire. Organisations answer questions about their IT infrastructure, devices, users, software, services and security controls. The assessment is then reviewed to confirm whether the organisation meets the Cyber Essentials requirements.
Cyber Essentials is often the first step for organisations that want to improve their cyber security posture, demonstrate good practice and provide assurance to customers, suppliers and stakeholders.
Why Cyber Essentials matters
Cyber Essentials matters because many successful cyber attacks exploit basic security weaknesses.
Unpatched software, weak access controls, unnecessary services, insecure configurations and poor malware protection can all create opportunities for attackers. Cyber Essentials helps organisations address these common issues through a clear and practical framework.
Certification can also support commercial and compliance objectives. Cyber Essentials is required for many UK Government contracts and is increasingly used by customers and supply chains as evidence that an organisation has basic cyber security controls in place.
For smaller organisations, Cyber Essentials provides a straightforward route to improving security. For larger organisations, it can form part of a wider assurance programme alongside penetration testing, Cyber Essentials Plus, ISO 27001, SOC 2, NCSC CHECK testing and other security services.
What does Cyber Essentials cover?
01
Firewalls & Routers
Cyber Essentials requires organisations to protect internet-connected systems using firewalls or equivalent controls, reducing unnecessary exposure to the internet.
02
Secure configuration
Devices, software and services should be configured securely, with unnecessary accounts, services and default settings removed or changed.
03
User access control
Access to systems and data should be limited to those who need it, with appropriate account management, permissions and authentication controls.
04
Malware protection
Organisations must have appropriate protection against malware, helping reduce the risk of malicious software affecting devices and systems.
05
Security update management
Software must be supported and kept up to date with security updates applied in line with Cyber Essentials requirements.
06
Device security
Cyber Essentials applies to the IT infrastructure used to perform your business, including relevant devices, users, software and services within the agreed assessment scope.
Cyber Essentials Plus
Cyber Essentials Plus builds on the Cyber Essentials verified self-assessment by adding a technical audit of your systems.
Cyber security solutions
Cloud Penetration Testing
Web Application Penetration Testing
Cloud Application Testing
Mobile Application Testing
Red Teaming services
Purple Teaming services
Infrastructure Penetration Testing Services
Threat-led Penetration Testing Services
Network Penetration Testing Services
Penetration Testing
Get in touch with our cyber security experts
Speak to Cyndicate Labs about Cyber Essentials certification support, Cyber Essentials Plus readiness, penetration testing or wider cyber security assurance.
Our experts can help you understand the requirements, assess your current controls and take practical steps towards certification.