Cyber Essentials Plus is an advanced level of the Cyber Essentials certification scheme, designed to provide a higher level of assurance regarding an organization’s cybersecurity practices. While Cyber Essentials provides a foundational level of cybersecurity by requiring self-assessment, Cyber Essentials Plus involves an additional layer of verification through external testing and assessment.
Key Aspects of Cyber Essentials Plus:
- Enhanced Assessment: Unlike the basic Cyber Essentials certification, which relies on self-assessment, Cyber Essentials Plus includes an external, independent assessment. This involves a thorough evaluation of the organization’s cybersecurity practices, including:
- Internal Vulnerability Scan: An assessment of the organization’s internal network to identify potential security vulnerabilities.
- On-Site Assessment: A physical or remote inspection to verify that the security controls are correctly implemented and functioning as intended.
- Increased Assurance: The additional testing in Cyber Essentials Plus provides a higher level of assurance that the organization has effectively implemented the Cyber Essentials controls and that they are robust against common cyber threats.
- Certification Process:
- Preparation: Organizations need to ensure their cybersecurity controls are in place and functioning correctly before applying for Cyber Essentials Plus.
- Assessment: An accredited Cyber Essentials Plus assessor conducts the external testing and verifies compliance with the Cyber Essentials controls.
- Certification: Upon successful completion of the assessment, the organization is awarded the Cyber Essentials Plus certification.
- Benefits of Cyber Essentials Plus:
- Stronger Security Posture: The additional testing helps identify and address potential weaknesses that might not be uncovered through self-assessment alone.
- Increased Trust and Credibility: Achieving Cyber Essentials Plus can enhance an organization’s reputation, showing clients and stakeholders a commitment to higher cybersecurity standards.
- Regulatory Compliance: It can help organizations meet specific regulatory requirements that demand a more rigorous level of security verification.
Cyber Essentials Plus is particularly valuable for organizations seeking to demonstrate a high level of cybersecurity maturity and for those that handle sensitive or regulated data.
