In today’s threat landscape, cyber security is no longer a “nice to have” for UK businesses — it’s a fundamental requirement. With attacks on SMEs rising year-on-year and government expectations tightening, certifications like Cyber Essentials (CE) and Cyber Essentials Plus (CE+) have become two of the most powerful tools to demonstrate security maturity, protect data, and build customer trust.
Whether you’re a small business looking to strengthen your security baseline or an organisation needing to demonstrate compliance for tenders, these certifications offer clear, measurable benefits. Here’s why Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus should be on your roadmap for 2025.
What is Cyber Essentials?
Cyber Essentials is a UK Government-backed scheme designed to help organisations of any size protect themselves against common cyber threats. It focuses on five core areas:
- Firewalls & Internet Gateways
- Secure Configuration
- User Access Control
- Malware Protection
- Patch Management (Security Updates)
This certification ensures you have essential security controls in place to defend against the vast majority of low-to-mid-level cyber attacks.
What is Cyber Essentials Plus?
Cyber Essentials Plus includes all the requirements of Cyber Essentials — but adds independent verification. Instead of relying on a self-assessment, a certified auditor performs hands-on technical testing, such as:
- Vulnerability scans
- Malware and antivirus checks
- Email and web security testing
- Device configuration inspections
CE+ gives much stronger assurance that your security is functioning correctly in the real world.
Top Benefits of Cyber Essentials (CE)
1. Protects Your Business Against 80% of Common Cyber Attacks
By implementing the five mandatory controls, organisations block the majority of opportunistic attacks, including phishing, malware infections, and basic hacking attempts.
2. Builds Trust with Clients and Partners
Being Cyber Essentials certified shows you take security seriously. For many customers — especially in B2B environments — CE is now an expectation, not a bonus.
3. Reduces Business Risk & Downtime
CE helps prevent the kinds of attacks that cause costly outages, data breaches, and reputation damage.
4. Often Required for UK Government Contracts
Any organisation handling government data, delivering public-sector services, or working with sensitive information must have Cyber Essentials as a minimum.
5. Keeps Insurance Premiums Lower
Many cyber insurers now require CE to obtain cover or to reduce premiums. Without it, claims may be denied after an incident.
Additional Benefits of Cyber Essentials Plus (CE+)
1. Independent Validation of Your Security
CE+ provides external verification from an accredited assessor, giving much stronger assurance compared to self-certified Cyber Essentials.
2. Demonstrates a Mature Cyber Security Posture
CE+ is seen as a mark of excellence — especially valuable for MSPs, law firms, finance sectors, healthcare, engineering, and any business handling sensitive or regulated data.
3. Identifies Real-World Vulnerabilities Before Attackers Do
The hands-on tests highlight gaps that may be missed internally, such as:
- Misconfigured devices
- Unpatched software
- Weak endpoint protection
- Unsafe firewall rules
This turns the assessment into a valuable improvement exercise.
4. Strengthens Tender and Supply Chain Positioning
More organisations now require Cyber Essentials Plus to enter supply chains. Holding CE+ often gives you a competitive advantage when bidding for new work.
5. Increases Customer Confidence
The “Plus” badge signals that an external security expert has validated your protections — giving clients significantly more trust than Cyber Essentials alone.
Cyber Essentials vs Cyber Essentials Plus: Which One Do You Need?
| Feature | Cyber Essentials | Cyber Essentials Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Self-assessment | ✔️ | ❌ (Independent audit instead) |
| Technical testing | ❌ | ✔️ (Vulnerability scans, device testing) |
| Accepted for many tenders | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Highest level of assurance | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Cost | Lower | Higher |
Best for most SMEs:
➡️ Start with Cyber Essentials for baseline protection and compliance.
Best for regulated, high-risk, or larger organisations:
➡️ Cyber Essentials Plus for deeper assurance and competitive advantage.
Why Businesses Should Certify in 2025
Cyber attacks are at an all-time high, and threat actors increasingly target small and medium-sized businesses. Meanwhile, supply chain regulations and insurance requirements are tightening.
Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus are among the simplest, fastest, and most affordable ways to:
- Strengthen your defences
- Demonstrate compliance
- Protect critical data
- Increase customer trust
- Reduce the financial impact of cyber incidents
For most organisations, CE and CE+ are no longer optional — they’re essential.
If you would like help achieving CE or CE+ call our team on 01978 869 182
