We are sharing this update from ACCA, our professional body, for the interest of clients and contacts. The content is (c) ACCA
Take steps now to protect both your business
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) Cyber Essentials is an effective, government-backed scheme that will help you to protect both your business and that of your clients, regardless of size, against a whole range of the most common cyber attacks.
Cyber attacks come in many shapes and sizes, but the vast majority are very basic in nature, carried out by relatively unskilled individuals. They’re the digital equivalent of a thief trying your front door to see if it’s unlocked. NCSC’s advice is designed to prevent these attacks.
Certification
There are two levels of Cyber Essentials certification:
Cyber Essentials – the self-assessment option gives you protection against a wide variety of the most common cyber attacks. This is important because vulnerability to basic attacks can mark you out as target for more in-depth unwanted attention from cyber criminals and others.
Certification gives you peace of mind that your defences will protect against the vast majority of common cyber attacks simply because these attacks are looking for targets which do not have the Cyber Essentials technical controls in place.
Cyber Essentials shows you how to address those basics and prevent the most common attacks.
Cyber Essentials Plus – this has the Cyber Essentials trademark simplicity of approach, and the protections you need to put in place are the same, but for Cyber Essentials Plus a hands-on technical verification is carried out.
Alternatively, you can familiarise yourself with cyber security terminology, gaining enough knowledge to begin securing your IT.
Why should you get Cyber Essentials?
- certified cybersecurity
- reassure clients that you are working to secure your IT against cyber attack
- attract new business with the promise you have cyber security measures in place
- have a clear picture of your organisation’s cyber security level
- some government contracts require Cyber Essentials certification.
Getting certified?
The IASME consortium, the NCSC’s Cyber Essentials Partner, can help you to get certified.
There is also the Cyber Essentials readiness toolkit. Your responses to the questions in the toolkit help create a personal action plan to help you or your clients move towards meeting the Cyber Essentials requirements. The action plan includes links to specific guidance on how to meet the requirements.