By Stephen McNickle, commercial director at RMT Technology.
As the Marks & Spencer management team would no doubt tell you, cybersecurity is no longer just a technical consideration in our increasingly digital world, but a business-critical priority.
For organisations handling sensitive or personal information (which, let’s face it, is most businesses these days), demonstrating that you take cyber threats seriously and have the right defences in place to address them is fundamental.
That’s where Cyber Essentials comes in.
What is Cyber Essentials?
Cyber Essentials is a UK governmentbacked certification scheme designed to help businesses protect themselves from common cyber threats.
It provides a clear framework for establishing basic security hygiene and offers a simple, affordable way to show your business takes its cybersecurity responsibilities seriously.
It’s split into two levels:
Cyber Essentials – basic self-assessed certification
Cyber Essentials Plus – an externally audited, more robust standard
Both versions are grounded in five key security controls:
Firewalls and Internet Gateways
Secure Configuration
User Access Control
Malware Protection
Security Updates (Patch Management)
Why it’s relevant for every business
Cyber attacks are not just targeted to large corporations. In fact, small and mediumsized businesses are frequently attacked because they’re often seen as easier to breach.
Industry estimates suggest that up to 60 per cent of SMEs that fall victim to a cyber attack fail within six months due to the disruption caused and the cost of trying to put things right.
Having Cyber Essentials certification has, however, been proven to reduce your risk of being hit by a cyber attack by up to 80% when implemented effectively.
For regulated industries or businesses working with government contracts, certification can be a mandatory requirement – but for any business, it sends a clear message to clients, suppliers and stakeholders that you take this issue seriously.
Common misconceptions
Cyber Essentials has been designed to be clear, achievable and scalable, whether you’re a sole trader or a company with hundreds of staff, and to not be too technical or time consuming.
It’s also much more than just a box-ticking exercise, with the real value lying in what the process uncovers.
You could identify issues such as old user accounts that should’ve been closed, missed software updates and avoidable gaps in protection, all of which can increase your business’s vulnerability to a cyber attack.
What happens if you don’t prioritise it?
Without basic cyber defences in place, businesses are exposed to a range of threats including:
Phishing emails that trick staff into handing over passwords
Ransomware attacks that lock down systems and demand payment
Data breaches that damage trust, reputation, and compliance standing
In the event of a breach, your responsibility doesn’t end with damage control. Depending on the nature of the data involved, you may need to report the incident to the Information Commissioner’s Office within 72 hours, notify affected clients and potentially face significant regulatory fines.
Cyber Essentials can’t guarantee you’ll never be targeted, but it can help show that you took reasonable steps to protect your data, and that counts for a lot.
How RMT Technology can help
Cyber Essentials isn’t just a certificate – it’s the first building block of a resilient business.
At RMT Technology, we believe in demystifying cybersecurity.
We’re here to help you build a more secure foundation – today, not tomorrow – by working with you to understand your systems, identify gaps and put in place practical, people-focused solutions which will help to keep your business as robust as possible .
Whether you need guidance on applying for Cyber Essentials for the first time or you’re looking to step up to Cyber Essentials Plus, we can support you every step of the way.
For more information on how to get started, contact RMT Technology on 0191 256 9550 or via hello@rmttechnology.co.uk