CYBER ESSENTIALS SERVICES
Safeguard your business, team, clients, and partners by leveraging our comprehensive Cyber Security Essentials and Essentials+ certifications to fortify your data protection measures.
Nationally Recognised – Reassure Clients – Identify Vulnerabilities
SOME STATS TO CONSIDER
95%
of cyber attacks target known vulnerabilities that could be prevented with basic controls.
80%
of breaches could be prevented by implementing basic security measures like those in Cyber Essentials.
43%
of businesses experience a cyber attack in a given year.
60%
of breaches could be prevented by implementing basic security measures like those in Cyber Essentials.
IMPROVE YOUR CYBER HEALTH
Doing business online should be safe. That’s why the UK has established the Cyber Essentials scheme. Operated by the National Cyber Security Centre, the scheme encourages good practice in information security. If your business is Cyber Essentials certified, it’s a clear sign to clients and partners that you can be trusted with their data and personal information.
At Consider IT, our Cyber Essentials service team guides you through the certification journey, ensuring compliance with Cyber Essentials baseline controls every step of the way.
WHY CHOOSE CONSIDER IT AND CYBER ESSENTIALS SERVICES
LOCAL EXPERTISE
Our certified professionals help you understand the requirements, scope the audit correctly, and prepare documentation - ideal if your internal IT team is small or non‑technical.
NCSC ASSURED
As an NCSC Assured Service Provider, Consider IT has demonstrated our dedication to cyber security through a rigorous evaluation process, ensuring the delivery of top-notch services.
END-TO-END GUIDANCE
Our IASME and CREST accredited practitioners are available to provide advice as you prepare for your Cyber Essentials certification questionnaire.
PENETRATION TESTING
For Cyber Essentials Plus tests, we will run vulnerability / penetration tests on your external firewalls and internet gateways and a sample of workstations to ensure they are strong enough to protect your business from common threats.
GOLD STANDARD
We don’t cut corners. We are an IASME Cyber Essentials Plus certifying body, a CREST member, a Scottish Business Resilience Centre Trusted Partner, among others. With us, you know that your IT infrastructure is robust and deserving of this seal of approval.
FREE RE-TESTS
We want you to feel safe online. If for any reason your business doesn’t achieve Cyber Essentials certification the first time, we’ll support you through a retest, totally free.
Why Cyber Essentials Matters
Protect against the most common cyber threats
Cyber Essentials establishes a baseline security standard covering key technical controls (firewalls, secure configuration, access control, malware protection, patch management) to defend against common internet-based attacks.
Reduce risk & strengthen your cyber posture
Organisations with Cyber Essentials in place are significantly less likely to suffer from common security incidents, helping reduce the likelihood of data breaches or ransomware attacks.
Win more contracts & meet compliance requirements
Many public-sector contracts, supply‑chain requirements and even major UK organisations now request Cyber Essentials (or better) as standard. Certification demonstrates you meet a recognised security baseline.
Build trust with customers, partners and stakeholders
Holding Cyber Essentials shows you take cyber security seriously and that you follow a formal, independently‑verified process. This helps you demonstrate data protection commitment and reassure those you work with.
TALK TO AN EXPERT
Need help with Cyber Essentials? Our experts can guide you through the process, answer your questions, and ensure your business meets certification standards. Get in touch today for expert advice and a free quote!
Trusted by Organisations Across Scotland
Discover what it’s like to work with Consider IT—from proactive IT management to effortless onboarding. Our clients share their stories and the impact our support has on their organisation.
Proactive IT Support
Clients from Mercat Tours, Eden Scott, and Cyber and Fraud Centre Scotland share how Consider IT’s reliable, secure, and people-focused IT support helps keep their organisations running smoothly.
Why Choose Consider IT
Kat from Mercat Tours, Ewan from Eden Scott, and Jude from Cyber and Fraud Centre Scotland explain why they trust Consider IT for dependable support, strong security, and a people-first partnership.
Seamless Onboarding with Consider IT
Kat, Ewan, and Jude share how Consider IT’s structured, stress-free onboarding makes transitioning to a new IT partner seamless and secure.
CYBER ESSENTIALS ACCREDITATION SERVICES
CYBER ESSENTIALS EXPERTS
Entry level Cyber Essentials is based on self-reporting. This can leave gaps in your defence. We take our responsibility as certifiers seriously, but ultimately, our job is to assess if your report truthfully meets the required standard. We only test your external firewall and internet gateways.
CYBER ESSENTIALS PLUS CERTIFICATION SERVICES
Cyber Essentials Plus dives even deeper to ensure the cyber security of your network is robust as it can be. In addition to firewall and gateway tests, our experts conduct extensive cyber security assessments including Malware Exposure, Internal Vulnerability, and External Vulnerability.
WORKSTATION & DEVICE TESTS
Our expert team examines what is arguably the biggest vulnerability to your cyber security. Human error is a real risk. To help limit your exposure, we assess the workstations your teams use in the office, and the mobile devices they take home, across the country and around the world.
CYBER ESSENTIALS FAQS
Cyber Essentials is a UK government-backed certification that helps businesses protect themselves against common cyber threats.
It focuses on five key security controls that reduce the risk of attacks such as malware, ransomware, and unauthorised access.
The scheme is built around five core security areas:
- Firewalls
- Secure configuration
- User access control
- Malware protection
- Security update management
These controls form a strong foundation for protecting your business from the most common cyber attacks.
Cyber Essentials is suitable for organisations of all sizes and industries.
It’s particularly important if you:
- Handle sensitive or client data
- Work with public sector organisations
- Want to demonstrate your commitment to cybersecurity
- Need to meet compliance or contract requirements
Cyber Essentials is a self-assessed certification, where you complete a questionnaire that is independently verified.
Cyber Essentials Plus includes a hands-on technical audit carried out by a certification body, providing a higher level of assurance that your controls are working effectively.
Certification is valid for 12 months.
To remain certified, you’ll need to renew annually and ensure your systems continue to meet the required standards.
This depends on your current level of security readiness.
If your systems already meet the requirements, certification can be achieved in a matter of days. If improvements are needed, it may take a few weeks to implement changes before passing.
If you don’t meet the requirements on your first attempt, you’ll receive feedback on what needs to be fixed.
Consider IT offer a free retest period, giving you time to address the issues and resubmit.
Cyber Essentials is not a legal requirement, but it is often required for government contracts and is increasingly expected by clients and partners.
It also helps demonstrate compliance with broader regulations such as GDPR.
No certification can guarantee complete protection.
However, Cyber Essentials is designed to protect against the most common cyber threats, which account for the majority of attacks faced by UK businesses.
The cost depends on the size of your organisation and whether you choose Cyber Essentials or Cyber Essentials Plus.
Basic certification is relatively low-cost, while Plus involves additional technical testing and is priced higher. Many businesses also choose support to help them prepare and ensure they pass first time. Consider IT offers a dedicated handholding and end-to-end guidance.
WE'RE HERE TO HELP
CONTACT US
Need help achieving Cyber Essentials? Speak to our experts for clear guidance and support every step of the way.
GET A QUOTE
Ready to get certified? Request a quick quote for Cyber Essentials or Cyber Essentials Plus, tailored to your business.
CHECK YOUR CYBER HEALTH
Not sure if you’re ready for certification? Run a quick check to see how your business measures up against Cyber Essentials requirements.
