Back to Basics With Cyber Essentials and Why This Scheme Matters for UK Businesses

Back to Basics With Cyber Essentials and Why This Scheme Matters for UK Businesses 

Cyber Security is becoming an increasing concern for businesses of every size, all businesses no matter the sector relies on forms of computers, online systems and services to manage, store or process sensitive business information, whether this would relate to clients, customers or suppliers. 

Cyber Essentials is one of the most commonly used frameworks established by the NCSC to offer organisations a practical steps in protecting company assets from some of the more prevalent and most common online commodity threats which include malicious threat vectors such as brute force/dictionary attacks or from well-known exploits on unpatched or poorly configured software or online user accounts.  

Proper implementation protects from 99% of all online sourced vulnerabilities with 82% of organisations that underwent an impact surveys confirming that they feel confident that the technical controls provide thorough protection from common cyber threats.  

What exactly is Cyber Essentials & How does this matter to businesses 

Cyber Essentials considered as a starting point for any organisation looking to have an adequate foundation in Cyber Security. This is done is by allowing an organisation to compare and audit their assets whilst ensuring they meet the minimum standards.  

These requirements come in the form of and focuses on 5 technical controls.  

Firewalls - helping prevent unauthorised access to your network. 

Secure configuration - ensuring computers and devices are configured securely. 

Security update management -keeping software up to date and reducing vulnerabilities. 

User access control - making sure people only have the access they need 

Malware protection - helping protect systems from malicious software. 

A Cyber Attack or data breach is more than just an IT related issue. It leads to disrupted operations, exposure and leakage of sensitive company and customer information, which in turn leads to damaged customer optics and confidence and ultimately resulting in financial loss whether this would be through trading or from mitigation costs. 

Cyber Essentials is one of the best ways to address those points and is a uniformed approach to prevent any basic weaknesses that any cyber criminal will often typically first attempt to exploit and does not require any high technical knowledge or skills. Most of which can be outsourced via the dark web for things like Phishing kits or developers that will rent out Ransomware as a service. Which reported by the NCA (National Crime Agency) now accounts for 70% of ransomware attacks. 

The bar is set ever lower, and these threats will continue to rise with pre-built commodity tools, with the use of AI & developers to do most of the heavy lifting for cyber criminals.  

The Cyber Threat landscape is ever evolving, and Cyber Essentials helps mitigate these by following a basic ethos. 

How Cyber Essentials Benefit Businesses 

The most prominent reason is Cyber Essentials protects business from the most common threats used. 

For smaller businesses, having a clear framework can make cyber security easier to understand and manage without requiring a large internal security team. With the larger costs accompanied with other information security standard frameworks such as ISO.  

 It demonstrates the Cyber Security is taken seriously, and it provides tangible proof that can be shown to customers, partners and suppliers. Since it would be invaluable if customers or clients ask how particularly their data is being protected whilst also giving confidence. 

It can be used to help secure new business since this is becoming part of the procurement process. On which the NCSC are pushing more towards with companies with affiliated supply chains to ensure that every partner has a form of Cyber security accreditation.  

 Vulnerabilities tend to have a knock-on effect where one small supplier may be an easier target, this often cascades and affects affiliated organisations directly. Hence the NCSC have published the supply chain playbook which outlines how organisations must audit potential suppliers. On top of this IASME the governing body of Cyber Essentials also has an open list of all suppliers and companies that hold a Cyber Essentials accreditation making possible tender choices easier for companies.  

When also working with the UK Government, there are stringent procurement rules, due to the sensitive nature of the data processed on the public sector. Meaning all associated contractors must maintain a certification if they are looking to win funding and or contracts. Closely related with Charities, Health services or other Public services. 

 The benefits of Cyber Essentials should be to strengthen your trust and confidence when either sharing infrastructure or information.  

Is Cyber Essentials only relevant to larger organisations? 

No, Cyber Essentials isn’t just useful just for larger organisations. The scheme was designed by IASME which stands for the ‘Information Assurance for Small and Medium Enterprises’ and as such was targeted towards smaller businesses first.  

The technical controls are laid out and made as simple as possible for those unfamiliar or have limited technical knowledge  

And is in fact dominantly effective for those looking to have a baseline Cyber Security certification that sets the foundation as a stepping point for any future progress with further accreditations or to align with current frameworks established.  

Cyber Essentials is a marathon and not a sprint and you will only get out what you put in meaning the more thorough you are with this internal audit the more confident you would be of your current posture, and it should be perceived as a starting point.  

This will not resolve all the Cyber Security concerns as you should also consider staff awareness, Data Backups, adopting a Zero trust approach and Incident Response. 

Cyber Essentials should be used to identify gaps and help strengthen your controls whilst considering your asset management via monitoring. Cyber Security should be an ongoing process and not an afterthought.    

Cyber Essentials provides a strong foundation for improving cyber security, reducing common risks and building confidence with customers and partners.

For businesses looking to strengthen their security and work towards certification, find out more about Cyber Essentials with WorkNest Secure.