What is the difference between Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus?

Cybersecurity is a critical concern for all organisations, regardless of size or industry.  Cyber Essentials (CE) and Cyber Essentials Plus are UK government-backed certification schemes designed to help organisations protect themselves against a wide range of cyber threats. These certifications not only improve your security posture but also demonstrate your commitment to safeguarding sensitive data.

Our Cyber Essentials assessor Owen Johnson explores the features, benefits, and differences between both certifications, helping you make an informed decision about which certification is right for your business.

Features and Benefits of Cyber Essentials

CE is the foundational level of certification that provides a robust framework for protecting your organisation against the most common cyber threats. Here are the key features and benefits:

1. Basic Protection Against Cyber Threats: Cyber Essentials helps defend against the most common cyber threats, such as malware, ransomware, and phishing attacks. It covers five critical technical controls:
   1. Firewalls: Ensuring that your internet connection is secure.
   2. Secure Configuration: Setting up your devices and software securely to reduce vulnerabilities.
   3. User Access Control: Restricting access to data and services to only those who need it.
   4. Malware Protection: Implementing anti-malware solutions to protect against malicious software.
   5. Patch Management: Keeping software up to date with the latest security patches.
2. Government-Backed Certification: As a government-endorsed scheme, this adds significant credibility to your organisation. It shows that you are adhering to a recognised standard of cybersecurity.
3. Boosts Customer Confidence: Certification reassures customers and clients that their data is being handled securely. It demonstrates that you take their privacy and security seriously.
4. Improves Business Reputation: Achieving this certification enhances your organisation’s reputation by showing that you are proactive about cybersecurity.
5. Cost-Effective: Cyber Essentials provides an affordable way to improve your cybersecurity posture. The certification process is straightforward and designed to be accessible for organisations of all sizes.
6. Legal and Regulatory Compliance: Certification helps organisations comply with various legal and regulatory requirements related to data protection and cybersecurity.

Features and Benefits of Cyber Essentials Plus

Cyber Essentials Plus builds on the foundations of Cyber Essentials, offering a higher level of assurance through more rigorous assessment and testing. Here are the key features and benefits:

1. Enhanced Protection: Cyber Essentials Plus includes all the benefits of CE but with additional layers of security through an in-depth assessment. This ensures that the basic controls are not only in place but also functioning correctly.
2. External Testing: Unlike CE, which is based on a self-assessment, Cyber Essentials Plus involves an independent, hands-on technical verification by a certified assessor. This provides a more reliable and objective assessment of your cybersecurity measures.
3. Vulnerability Scanning: The certification process includes external vulnerability scans to identify any potential weaknesses in your systems. These scans help detect vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers.
4. Internal Assessment: In addition to external testing, Cyber Essentials Plus includes an internal assessment of your IT systems. This ensures that your internal security controls are robust and effective.
5. Higher Assurance Level: The comprehensive nature of the assessment provides a higher level of assurance to stakeholders, including customers, partners, and regulators.
6. More Comprehensive Coverage: Cyber Essentials Plus covers more sophisticated attack vectors and offers better protection against advanced threats. It provides a more thorough evaluation of your cybersecurity posture.
7. Detailed Reporting: The certification process includes detailed reporting on the findings of the assessment, providing you with valuable insights into your security strengths and weaknesses.

Comparison between both certifications

Why Choose Cyber Essentials Plus?

While both Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus provide valuable protection against cyber threats, Cyber Essentials Plus offers several significant advantages:

1. Greater Trust from Customers and Partners: Cyber Essentials Plus certification demonstrates a higher level of commitment to cybersecurity. Customers and partners are more likely to trust that you have implemented robust measures to protect their data, which can enhance business relationships and lead to new opportunities.
2. Improved Security Posture: The in-depth assessment and independent verification process of Cyber Essentials Plus ensure that your cybersecurity controls are not only in place but also effective. This reduces the risk of data breaches and cyber-attacks.
3. Higher Marketability: In competitive markets, Cyber Essentials Plus certification can be a key differentiator. It showcases your dedication to cybersecurity and can be a decisive factor for customers and partners when choosing between you and a competitor.
4. Detailed Insights and Actionable Recommendations: The comprehensive assessment process provides detailed insights into your organisation’s cybersecurity strengths and weaknesses. This allows you to address any vulnerabilities and continuously improve your security measures.
5. Enhanced Compliance Support: Cyber Essentials Plus offers enhanced support for regulatory and industry compliance. This is particularly important for organisations operating in highly regulated industries, such as finance and healthcare.
6. Peace of Mind: Knowing that your cybersecurity measures have been rigorously tested and verified by independent experts provides peace of mind. It assures you that your organisation is well-protected against the evolving cyber threat landscape.

Conclusion

In conclusion, both Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus offer valuable frameworks for improving your organisation’s cybersecurity posture. However, the enhanced security and assurance provided by Cyber Essentials Plus make it the superior choice for organisations seeking comprehensive protection against cyber threats. By choosing Cyber Essentials Plus, you not only safeguard your business but also demonstrate a stronger commitment to cybersecurity, giving you a competitive edge in the marketplace.

Invest in Cyber Essentials Plus today and take your cybersecurity to the next level. Protect your data, build customer trust, and enhance your business reputation with the highest standard of cybersecurity certification.