In recent years, cyber attacks have become increasingly common and sophisticated, posing a significant threat to UK businesses.
One high-profile attack was the ransomware attack on the University of Hertfordshire, which caused significant disruption to the institution’s IT systems. The attack, which occurred in April 2021, resulted in the university’s online learning platform being offline for several days, affecting over 27,000 students.
In addition to these attacks, there have been several incidents of phishing scams, where criminals send fraudulent emails to trick employees into sharing sensitive information or transferring money. These attacks have affected businesses of all sizes, from small startups to large corporations.
To combat these threats, businesses need to take proactive steps to protect themselves from cyber attacks. One of the most popular is the Cyber Essentials certification.
The Cyber Essentials scheme was created to provide a baseline of cyber security measures that organisations can implement to protect themselves against common cyber attacks. The scheme is designed to be accessible and affordable for businesses of all sizes, and it provides two levels of certification: Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus.
Since its launch, the Cyber Essentials scheme has been widely adopted by businesses in the UK. In 2018, the UK government announced that all of its suppliers must be Cyber Essentials certified, and many other organisations have followed suit.
The Cyber Essentials scheme has also evolved over time to keep pace with the changing cyber threat landscape. In 2017, the scheme was updated to include additional controls to address the growing threat of ransomware, and in 2019, the scheme was updated again to include controls related to cloud security.
Overall, the Cyber Essentials scheme has played an important role in raising awareness of cyber security issues and helping businesses to implement effective security controls. As the threat of cyber attacks continues to grow, it is likely that the Cyber Essentials scheme will remain a valuable tool for businesses seeking to protect themselves against cyber threats.
To achieve Cyber Essentials certification, organisations must demonstrate that they have implemented a range of security controls, including boundary firewalls, secure configuration, access control, malware protection, and patch management. Cyber Essentials Plus certification requires organisations to undergo a more rigorous assessment of their security controls, including vulnerability scanning and penetration testing. By obtaining Cyber Essentials certification, companies can save time and money by avoiding the costly consequences of a cyber attack.
Cyber Essentials certification can also help companies reduce their cyber security risk. By implementing these basic security controls, businesses can demonstrate their commitment to cyber security and reassure customers and partners that their data is safe. This can lead to increased trust and confidence in the company, which can translate to increased business opportunities.
Overall, Cyber Essentials certification is a valuable tool for businesses looking to protect themselves from cyber attacks, save time and money, and reduce their cyber security risk.
