Question 1

Can penetration testing cover all areas of our business?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We assess networks, applications, cloud infrastructure, APIs, physical premises, and staff awareness through red teaming, social engineering, and advanced breach simulations—providing a complete view of your attack surface.

Question 2

How do we maximise the value of a penetration test?

Accepted Answer

By addressing basic security controls first, you reduce easy wins and allow testers to focus on deeper, more complex vulnerabilities—unlocking the greatest insight and strengthening your overall security posture.

Question 3

How does penetration testing improve security beyond identifying vulnerabilities?

Accepted Answer

Our approach goes further than finding flaws. Combined with vSOC Assure, it provides strategic actionable insights, strengthens processes, and guides ongoing improvements across your IT environment.

Question 4

Why choose CREST-accredited penetration testing?

Accepted Answer

CREST accreditation ensures our testers operate to the highest standards of skill, ethics, and methodology, giving you confidence in the reliability of findings and compliance with audit, regulatory, and supply chain requirements.

Question 5

What are the outcomes of a cyber attack?

Accepted Answer

What can happen if your organisation is targeted by a cyber attack?

Cyber attacks can result in a wide range of consequences, including:

Malware and ransomware infections
Data breaches and loss of personal or customer information
Supply chain compromises
System sabotage or operational disruption
Theft of intellectual property or funds
Reputational damage and loss of customer trust

Training staff to recognise early warning signs helps prevent these outcomes and builds a proactive line of defence.

Question 6

What to expect from basic security training?

Accepted Answer

A strong security awareness programme needs to address basic security training in the first instance such as password security, GDPR, clean desk policies, oversharing of personal information, information security and computer accessibility.

Question 7

How often should we run security awareness training?

Accepted Answer

We recommend running training throughout the year, reinforced with regular phishing simulations and updated content. Our team helps you define a sustainable cadence that aligns with your risk profile and organisational culture.

Question 8

Can you track who is vulnerable and who needs extra support?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The vSOC Connect Console provides data on user engagement and performance. You can identify which users are excelling, who needs further training, and where to focus remediation for maximum impact.

Question 9

How is training content delivered and kept engaging?

Accepted Answer

We use a wide range of formats - including videos, quizzes, games, posters, and newsletters - to keep content fresh and accessible. Training is gamified and aligned to current threats to ensure ongoing engagement and long-term knowledge retention.

Question 10

What types of phishing simulations do you run?

Accepted Answer

Our simulations reflect real-world attack vectors - including credential harvesting, malicious attachments, QR code scams, and spear phishing. These exercises are designed to mimic modern threats, helping your team identify and report suspicious activity with confidence.

Question 11

How is vSOC Aware different from off-the-shelf training platforms?

Accepted Answer

Unlike generic awareness tools, vSOC Aware is a fully managed service delivered by experienced cyber security professionals. We tailor each programme to your organisation’s risk profile, incorporate real-world simulations, and provide campaign insights that drive measurable behaviour change.

Question 12

Can we get Cyber Essentials if we aren&#8217;t based in the UK?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 13

How can I check my Cyber Essentials certificate status?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 14

What does the Cyber Essentials Plus audit look like?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 15

Does vSOC Recon cover remote or off-network devices?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. Our agent-based technology allows continuous monitoring of devices even when they’re off-network. This is essential for hybrid and remote workforces, ensuring that no device falls outside your security perimeter.

Question 16

Can vSOC Recon help with compliance requirements?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The vSOC Connect Console provides compliance-focused dashboards and reporting for standards like Cyber Essentials, ISO 27001 and PCI DSS. It also highlights high-risk vulnerabilities that could result in compliance failure, helping you address them before audits or assessments.

Question 17

How often should vulnerability scans be run?

Accepted Answer

Point-in-time scanning (e.g. monthly or quarterly) can leave you exposed between scans. vSOC Recon delivers real-time scanning and reporting, helping you reduce exposure windows and stay ahead of evolving threats.

Question 18

How is vSOC Recon different from other vulnerability scanners?

Accepted Answer

Many tools just report vulnerabilities based on CVSS scores; vSOC Recon also considers exploitability, asset criticality and business impact to prioritise remediation efforts. vSOC Recon combines real-world threat intelligence, SOC analyst support, and strategic guidance to turn results into meaningful actions.

Question 19

What are the 5 core technical controls within Cyber Essentials?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 20

What are Cyber Advisors?

Accepted Answer

A Cyber Advisor is a specialist who offers advice and assistance to organisations aiming for the Cyber Essentials certification. They assist organisations in understanding the certification process, evaluating their existing security protocols, and establishing the required safeguards to fulfil the certification criteria. To become a Cyber Advisor, a person needs to meet a strict criteria themselves and pass tests proving their expertise. Plus, they have to work for a company who is accredited as an Assured Service Provider.

Due to the rigorous testing, the advisors have thorough knowledge of cyber security best practices and can customise their advice to address the unique needs and challenges of each organisation. Advisors collaborate closely with organisations to pinpoint vulnerabilities, formulate a plan to achieve the certification and work with you throughout the implementation stage to ensure your business is meeting the Cyber Essentials framework.

Data Connect are proud to be an Assured Service Provider and have Cyber Advisors on hand to help organisations with the certification process.

Question 21

How long does it take to achieve Cyber Essentials certification?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 22

How often does Cyber Essentials need to be renewed?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 23

Can managed firewall services integrate with Managed Detection &#038; Response (MDR)?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can optionally add vSOC Alert, our MDR service powered by Google SecOps, directly into your firewall management plan. This delivers deeper threat detection across your network.

Question 24

How quickly can you respond to a firewall issue or outage?

Accepted Answer

Our team provides regular monitoring, and average response times for support requests are under 25 minutes via the vSOC Connect Console. We detect problems proactively and respond swiftly to minimise risk and downtime.

Question 25

What’s the difference between co-managed and fully managed firewall services?

Accepted Answer

In a co‑managed model, you retain some in-house control over your firewall, while we provide expert oversight, updates, and support. Our team of experts delegates everything; configuration, patching, monitoring, and incident response to our certified team, providing a turnkey solution.

Question 26

How does vSOC Assure compare our risk to industry standards?

Accepted Answer

We incorporate industry data to show how your cyber maturity stacks up against peers, helping contextualise your risk profile and highlight opportunities for competitive resilience.

Question 27

What kind of support do we get with vSOC Assure?

Accepted Answer

You gain access to our certified security professionals and subject matter experts, including a dedicated vCISO who acts as a conduit between your board and IT teams - translating technical risks into business language and strategic action. You’ll also receive support from our technical team at Data Connect, who provide clear guidance on when, where, and how to make improvements to your security posture.

Question 28

What is included in the strategic roadmap provided by vSOC Assure?

Accepted Answer

Your roadmap includes SMART objectives, prioritised remediation steps, and clearly defined milestones - all mapped to your organisation’s risk profile and reviewed within the vSOC Connect Console.

Question 29

How is risk tracked and visualised in the vSOC Connect Console?

Accepted Answer

The console provides interactive tools such as heatmaps, Gantt charts, maturity matrices, and risk dashboards to help you track and manage your cyber risk. You can allocate tasks, contact support, and see exactly what needs to be done and when. As actions are completed, progress and maturity are reflected visually with a traffic light system while our technical team reviews and adjusts scores to ensure ongoing accuracy and improvement.

Question 30

What frameworks does vSOC Assure use?

Accepted Answer

vSOC Assure aligns with globally recognised cyber security frameworks such as the CIS Critical Security Controls, providing a structured guide to ensure the right questions are asked and the right risks are identified. We map these frameworks to real-world actions, helping you understand, prioritise, and address cyber risk in a way that’s standards-based, scalable, and tailored to your industry.

Question 31

Who is vSOC Assure designed for &#8211; IT teams or executive leadership?

Accepted Answer

Both. vSOC Assure bridges the gap between C-Suite and IT, offering executive-level assurance and operational tools to ensure strategic alignment and measurable risk reduction across the organisation.

Question 32

What is vSOC Assure and how does it help manage cyber risk?

Accepted Answer

vSOC Assure is our structured cyber risk management service that helps identify, assess, and reduce your organisation’s risk exposure through strategic planning, expert technical support, and actionable insights via the vSOC Connect Console.

Cyber Security Resources

Resources &
Downloads

Vulnerability Management: 6 Challenges Seen by Our Cyber Security Team

Mitigating Cyber Risks: Your Comprehensive Guide to Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus

NEW: Cyber Essentials Scheme: IT Requirements v3.2

Sign up to Cyber Roundup

Your Guide to Patching and Vulnerability Management for Cyber Essentials Success

NEW: Cyber Essentials Plus Audit Guidance

NEW: Cyber Essentials Question Set – (Willow 2025)

Cyber Essentials Certificate Search

Joint Cyber Security Advisory: Russian GRU Targeting Western Logistics Entities and Technology Companies

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