Solutions

Cyber Essentials Certification

Certifications don’t just tick a box, they prove your commitment to cyber security and give customers and stakeholders confidence in your processes.

As a recognised certification body for Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus, we make the journey simple and stress-free. With support from our experienced Cyber Advisors and complete visibility through the vSOC Connect Console, we ensure your certification is both efficient and effective.
Talk to an expert
Cyber Essentials Certification

CERTIFICATION BENEFITS

Opportunity to bid for government contracts and other projects that require Cyber Essentials
Increase your credibility by showing partners and customers that you take security seriously
Better understanding of your scope and how to further develop your cyber security strategy
Lower insurance premiums as providers often expect Cyber Essentials certification
Address the most accessible weaknesses to reduce the likelihood of an attack
A Proud Cyber Advisor and NCSC Assured Service Provider<br />

A Proud Cyber Advisor and NCSC Assured Service Provider

Government research found that 66% of organisations needed to ask questions or seek help during the Cyber Essentials certification process.

The benefits of working with a Cyber Advisor include: Tailored recommendations | Expert guidance | Smooth certification process | High standard of customer service

Cyber Advisor Scheme

The Cyber Advisor Scheme is designed to offer organisations expert cyber security advice and support, focusing on implementation of the technical controls outlined in the Cyber Essentials scheme. Businesses receive guidance from experts who have a deep understanding of cyber security best practices.

These advisors are thoroughly assessed and certified to provide tailored, practical support, helping organisations understand and comply with the Cyber Essentials framework. 

Every Cyber Advisor must work for an Assured Service Provider, a company that has earned NCSC accreditation for outstanding security practices and customer service.

Blue and white shield with a green checkmark on a light blue background with plus symbols, symbolizing security, protection, and health safety.

How to become Cyber Essentials Certified

Cyber Essentials has been designed to help businesses of all sizes ensure they have the necessary core controls in place to protect themselves against cyber attacks. 

Cyber Essentials is a government-backed scheme that outlines the five technical controls an organisation must have to ensure an effective level of security. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has assured organisations that, with Cyber Essentials, the most common cyber attacks can be prevented.

There are two levels to the certification: Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus. Cyber Essentials is a questionnaire-based certification, following the five core technical control themes.

As the threat landscape evolves, the technical requirements can be updated by the two governing bodies, the NCSC and IASME, to reflect new security vulnerabilities. An organisation needs to reapply for the Cyber Essentials certification every 12 months, which validates that their current security protocols are effective in the current threat landscape.

Why Data Connect?

Why Data Connect?

Streamline Your Certification Journey With vSOC CERT

With Data Connect, Cyber Essentials becomes more than a box-ticking exercise, it becomes a strategic stepping stone toward cyber resilience. From scoping to certification, you’ll be supported by experienced Cyber Advisors, robust tooling and a trusted security partner.

  • Guided Certification: Step-by-step support from a certified Assured Service Provider with accredited Cyber Advisors.
  • Deep Technical Understanding: Our team translates compliance requirements into actionable, tailored advice.
  • Seamless Audit Experience: From documentation to walkthroughs, we simplify Cyber Essentials Plus preparation.
  • Integrated Cyber Services: Embed certification into a wider cyber security strategy via our vSOC managed services including vSOC Assure, our Cyber Risk Management service.
  • Real-Time Visibility: Monitor progress and track evidence using our vSOC Connect Console.
  • Trusted by Others: We’ll even connect you with similar customers who’ve successfully certified with us.
Talk to an expert About Data Connect

vSOC Managed Services

vSOC Assure
Cyber Risk
Management

Navigate cyber risk with a trusted security partner. Pinpoint your current risk exposure and how to overcome these security gaps. Benefit from a combination of real-world risk analysis, benchmarking, vCISO support and actionable recommendations to drive strategic cyber maturity, all whilst dramatically reducing risk.

vSOC CERT
Cyber Essentials Review Toolkit

Stop Cyber Essentials from being a headache once a year. vSOC CERT streamlines and supports the entire certification lifecycle, from preparation to audit, keeping you compliant and secure all year round.

vSOC Manage
Managed
Firewall Service

Achieve optimal performance whilst ensuring a secure environment with vSOC Manage. Whether you're trying to achieve Zero Trust, maintain SASE, SD-WAN or perimeter defences, our qualified and experienced team are here to help.

vSOC Recon
Attack Surface Management

Secure your environment with confidence and reduce your risk exposure. Our attack surface management service, vSOC Recon, helps you understand risks, prioritise vulnerabilities and take decisive action.

vSOC Alert
Managed Detection and Response (MDR)

24x7 actionable intelligence, delivering business resilience and trusted protection. If you are looking for a service to proactively detects threats, reduce dwell time and respond fast, vSOC Alert is right for you.

vSOC Aware
Security Awareness
Training

Human error is the #1 cause of security breaches. Our security awareness training and phishing simulation service equips your team to spot phishing, avoid threats and stay proactive. Reduce risk with your bespoke training programme.

Resources
Using our extensive knowledge of cyber security, we’ve worked to create and provide some excellent resources that help you to approach cyber security within your organisation.
View resources
vSOC Assure
Cyber Risk
Management

Navigate cyber risk with a trusted security partner. Pinpoint your current risk exposure and how to overcome these security gaps. Benefit from a combination of real-world risk analysis, benchmarking, vCISO support and actionable recommendations to drive strategic cyber maturity, all whilst dramatically reducing risk.

vSOC CERT
Cyber Essentials Review Toolkit

Stop Cyber Essentials from being a headache once a year. vSOC CERT streamlines and supports the entire certification lifecycle, from preparation to audit, keeping you compliant and secure all year round.

vSOC Manage
Managed
Firewall Service

Achieve optimal performance whilst ensuring a secure environment with vSOC Manage. Whether you're trying to achieve Zero Trust, maintain SASE, SD-WAN or perimeter defences, our qualified and experienced team are here to help.

vSOC Recon
Attack Surface Management

Secure your environment with confidence and reduce your risk exposure. Our attack surface management service, vSOC Recon, helps you understand risks, prioritise vulnerabilities and take decisive action.

vSOC Alert
Managed Detection and Response (MDR)

24x7 actionable intelligence, delivering business resilience and trusted protection. If you are looking for a service to proactively detects threats, reduce dwell time and respond fast, vSOC Alert is right for you.

vSOC Aware
Security Awareness
Training

Human error is the #1 cause of security breaches. Our security awareness training and phishing simulation service equips your team to spot phishing, avoid threats and stay proactive. Reduce risk with your bespoke training programme.

Resources
Using our extensive knowledge of cyber security, we’ve worked to create and provide some excellent resources that help you to approach cyber security within your organisation.
View resources

Testimonials

When it comes to renewal time, we get a lot of other providers contacting us, offering alternative solutions. The fact we’ve stayed with Data Connect for so long is testament to how much we value the relationship and how pleased we are with the solutions provided.

Head IT Support Engineer | Industrial Services | 800+ Employees

Testimonials

However, with the vSOC Connect Console, I can check and monitor everything and access the information that I need quickly, at any time. I have the vSOC Connect Console open all day, every day.

ICT Manager | Not-for-Profit | 50+ Employees

Testimonials

Our business has now worked with Data Connect for over a decade. They’re more than a supplier; they’re our security partner. They’re prepared to put the hours in to get you into the security position you need to be in.

Information Systems Manager | Food Service | 500+ Employees

Testimonials

Without the experienced human expertise provided by Data Connect, we wouldn’t have got as far as we did. It’s important to say, right from the start, they were incredibly helpful to me personally, as someone that doesn’t ‘speak the language’. When I asked questions, never once was there a raised eyebrow or a patronising response.

Clients Director of Corporate Services | Not-for-Profit | 50+ Employees

Cyber Essentials Certification FAQs

What does the Cyber Essentials Plus audit look like?

+
-

The Cyber Essentials Plus audit is an independent verification of the controls to which you will attest to within the Cyber Essentials questionnaire. The auditor will run tests on a sample set of devices for which your end users should be present and should run the tests under the guidance of the assessor. So long as the questionnaire has been answered correctly, your organisation should be able to pass the Cyber Essentials Plus standard.

How can I check my Cyber Essentials certificate status?

+
-

You can quickly and easily find the information through the Cyber Essentials Certificate Search if you’d like to check a Cyber Essentials or Cyber Essentials Plus certification. This useful tool can be found on the IASME website and can tell you your certification numbers, what’s included in scope and the date of certification as for many businesses they'll have two dates, one for Cyber Essentials and another for Cyber Essentials Plus. Better yet, you can use this tool to check on other organisations you may be working with right now or who you’re thinking about working with in the future, this will allow you to determine if the business has solid technical controls in place.

How long does it take to achieve Cyber Essentials certification?

+
-

Time frames vary, but with tools like vSOC CERT, most organisations can achieve certification within a very short time, depending on the scope. The main reason for failing to achieve certification are vulnerabilities and the inability to identify and fix them. CERT has a tool to help with this, and ongoing monitoring ensures you stay compliant year-round.

What are the 5 core technical controls within Cyber Essentials?

+
-

The five core controls are: Boundary Firewalls & Internet Gateways | Secure Configurations | Access Controls | Malware Protection | Security Updates However, due to the complexity and ever-evolving nature of the threat landscape, not all of the Cyber Essentials requirements fit neatly into these five controls. The reason for this is the scheme's aim being to keep organisations protected against the most common cyber attacks, which can only be achieved if the NCSC and IASME regularly revise the criteria as a defence against emerging threats.

Can we get Cyber Essentials if we aren't based in the UK?

+
-

Yes due to Cyber Essentials being an internationally recognised standard. We have helped many international organisations achieve Cyber Essentials. In many cases, these businesses wanted to increase credibility within the UK market.

How often does Cyber Essentials need to be renewed?

+
-

Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus certifications are valid for 12 months. Reassessment is required annually to maintain compliance. If aiming for Plus, need to get this within 3-months of getting Essentials in case the scope changes.

Need more help?

Talk to an expert View all