Cyber threats are a concern for every business, large and small. Everyday cyber attackers target businesses, and many are often under prepared.
That’s why Cyber Essentials certification is more relevant than ever and an investment worth making, both in terms of cost and time.
Protect data, secure your reputation, and cement trust among customers and suppliers.
What is Cyber Essentials?
It’s a cybersecurity certification scheme that’s government backed and outlines five basic security controls that can prevent around 80% of cyber security attacks.
These include:
- Firewalls and internet gateways
- Secure configuration
- User access control
- Malware protection
- Patch management
Why Cyber Security Matters
Cyber threats are ever present and never far away from the news headlines. They are growing in frequency, complexity and are having a greater financial impact on businesses. In short, they’re more hard hitting.
These common attacks can include:
- Ransomware that restricts access to data and demands payment in return
- Phishing emails which target employees with genuine looking emails that encourage them to click on suspicious links
- Data breaches that can take customer information and damage a brand’s reputation and trust
- Malware infections that disrupt business operations and spread across the company networks
According to the ICO, data security incidents occur when organisations do not have “appropriate technical or organisational measures” to protect the personal data they hold.
Cyber Essentials isn’t a golden bullet – but it will stop the vast majority of unsophisticated high-volume attacks.
Why should you become Cyber Essentials Certified?
- Protects your business from common cyber threats. It ensures your business has the right level of protection in place to defend itself against phishing attacks, malware, ransomware and unauthorised access.
- Aids the sales process. Cyber essentials certification is mandatory in the tendering process for local authority contracts but private sector companies are also requiring their suppliers and partners to be certified too.
- Builds trust with customers and stakeholders. Certification is a clear sign that you take cybersecurity seriously. It offers that crucial reassurance to your key stakeholders.
- Demonstrates regulatory compliance. Although becoming certified isn’t a legal requirement, it supports your data protection obligations and allows you to show how proactive you are in securing data.
- Save on cyber insurance. Insurance premiums can be reduced while others make it a mandatory requirement to take out cyber insurance.
- Improve internal IT processes. Knowing where tour weaknesses lie in your IT infrastructure is paramount to securing your network. The certification process strengthens defences, improves staff training and allows you to implement better controls.
- It’s affordable. Certification isn’t beyond the reach of small businesses and is low cost when compared with the financial risk of a data breach.
Becoming certified is straightforward and something not to push to one side and ignore.
Data is one of a business’ biggest assets, so keep it secure and protected.
How can Zusi help?
As part of our Managed IT Support agreements, we work with businesses so they can achieve Cyber Essentials certification and stay protected, secure and compliant.
Talk to a member of the team today and make us the IT partner you can trust.