Cyber threats are a constant risk for businesses, even when you’re not thinking about them and small to medium enterprises (SMEs) are no exception. Cyber Essentials certification—a UK government-backed scheme—helps businesses put basic security measures in place to protect against common online attacks. Getting your company certified isn’t always straightforward, especially if IT security isn’t your area of expertise. If your internal IT support isn’t equipped to guide you through the process, or the person you rely on for day-to-day support doesn’t have the time or experience, you might find yourself struggling with compliance, security risks, and even lost business opportunities.
What Cyber Essentials Certification Covers
Cyber Essentials focuses on five key areas of cybersecurity:
- Firewalls and Internet Gateways – Securing internet access points to prevent unauthorised access.
- Secure Configuration – Ensuring systems are set up securely to minimise vulnerabilities.
- Access Control – Restricting data and system access to authorised users only.
- Malware Protection – Using security tools to detect and reduce malware risks.
- Patch Management – Keeping software and systems up to date to avoid known security flaws.
This certification isn’t just a best practice—it’s increasingly becoming a necessity for businesses working with the government and certain industries.
The Legal and Business Risks of Skipping Certification
From as early as April 2025, UK businesses will face tighter cybersecurity regulations under the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill. While Cyber Essentials certification won’t be legally required for all businesses, certain government contracts and industry sectors will demand compliance. If you want to work with public sector bodies or supply chains handling sensitive data, you may need to prove your commitment to security.
Failing to meet these requirements could mean losing out on contracts at best, or facing reputational damage that costs you a chunk of your client base at worst. There’s also the risk of increased liability—if your business suffers a cyber attack and you weren’t following security best practices, you could be held responsible for failing to protect customer or partner data.
Cyber Essentials and Business Insurance
Insurance providers are increasingly factoring Cyber Essentials certification into their risk assessments. Some insurers now require businesses to have Cyber Essentials in place before offering cover, while others offer lower premiums for certified businesses. Without certification, you may find your policy costs more—or that you can’t get cover at all.
Cyber insurance is becoming a key safeguard against the financial damage of cyber incidents, from ransomware attacks to data breaches. If your business hasn’t considered Cyber Essentials, you could be making it harder to get affordable protection.
What Happens When Cybersecurity Is Overlooked?
The impact of failing to secure IT systems is well documented. The 2017 WannaCry ransomware attack disrupted organisations worldwide, including the NHS, which had to cancel thousands of appointments and procedures. The attack exploited unpatched systems—exactly the kind of weakness that Cyber Essentials is designed to prevent.
For SMEs, the risks are just as real. A data breach or cyber attack can lead to financial losses, reputational damage, and even regulatory fines if customer data is compromised. Implementing Cyber Essentials can help businesses reduce these risks by covering the security basics that attackers often exploit.
Should You Use Internal Resources or External IT Support?
If you decide to pursue Cyber Essentials certification, you’ll need to choose between managing the process in-house or getting external support.
- Internal resources: Using your existing team might seem like a cost-saving option, but unless they have cybersecurity expertise, they could overlook risks or struggle to meet certification standards.
- External IT support: A dedicated IT provider brings objectivity, experience, and up-to-date knowledge of cybersecurity threats. They can assess your security gaps, make recommendations, and guide you through the certification process without the risk of missing key requirements.
Choosing the right support can be the difference between an easy certification process and one that drags on, consuming time and resources.
Is Your IT Support Up to the Task?
Cyber Essentials certification isn’t just a tick-box exercise—it’s a practical step towards better cybersecurity. If your IT support team doesn’t have the experience or capacity to help, you could be wasting valuable time or leaving your business exposed to risk.
At Clearsky IT, we work with SMEs across Wiltshire and the surrounding counties to strengthen their security and simplify the certification process. If you’re considering Cyber Essentials certification but aren’t sure where to start, we can help you get it done efficiently and without unnecessary stress.
Are you confident your IT support can guide you through Cyber Essentials certification? If not, now is the time to find a provider that can.
Further reading: Cyber security is non-negotiable for any SME
