What is cyber security?

Cyber security is how individuals and organisations reduce the risk of cyber attack.
Cyber security's core function is to protect the devices we all use (smartphones, laptops, tablets and computers), and the services we access - both online and at work - from theft or damage.
It is also about preventing unauthorised access to the vast amounts of personal information we store on these devices, and online.

Why is it important?

Cyber security is important because smartphones, computers and the internet are now such a fundamental part of modern life, that it's difficult to imagine how we would function without them. From online banking and shopping, to email and social media, it's more important than ever to take steps that can prevent cyber criminals getting hold of our accounts, data, and devices. 

Get Cyber Essentials Certified

Backed by the UK Government, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) have outlined and designed the Cyber Essentials framework with the aim of helping organisations guard against a wide range of common cyber threats and demonstrate commitment to their customers and suppliers that they take cyber security seriously. The scheme is available to businesses of all sizes and is implemented by the accreditation body IASME.

As an IASME approved assessor for the Cyber Essentials Plus accreditations, we offer a range of options to support you in your journey to certification, depending on your requirements and internal technical ability.

Formalise your Cybersecurity strategy

Our process gives you and your team a clear picture of your current cybersecurity standard and ensures that key processes and policies are formally documented. Putting cybersecurity on your business agenda is critical as it isn’t just an IT problem, it is a business problem and you need to get everyone in your organisation knowledgeable and up to date about cyber threats.

Win More Business

If you want to work with Government organisations, local councils, healthcare, financial or other public sector organisations you will have to have the Cyber Essentials Plus Certification. The government requires all suppliers bidding for contracts involving the handling of certain sensitive and personal information to hold an up-to-date Cyber Essentials certificate. Having this accreditation can help to grow your business.

Employee Engagement

The certification process builds cybersecurity awareness within your organisation. In addition it will educate your people on essential security practices, and equip them to respond to potential threats.

Cyber Liability Insurance

Upon achieving certification, any UK organisation with turnover below £20m automatically qualifies for AXA Cyber Liability Insurance and incident response up to £25,000.

Cyber Essentials Plus Certification Process

Cyber Essentials Plus is assessed against the same five key controls as Cyber Essentials.

While your Cyber Essentials certification was self-assessed, the Cyber Essentials Plus certification includes a Vulnerability Assessment and a Remote Technical Audit of your systems.

Basic 5 Controls of the Cyber Essentials Framework

Control 1: Firewalls & Internet Gateways

Control 2: Secure Configuration

Control 3: Patching and updates

Control 4: Access Control

Control 5: Malware Protection

The organisation needs to pass on all 5 of the Cyber Essentials controls.

A qualified assessor from Dynamic Technologies Europe will perform a remote audit on a sample of devices from across your organisation to ensure that the configuration meets the requirements.

Our team will perform a Vulnerability Assessment (hyperlink to webpage defining what a vulnerability assessment is) across these machines to confirm patching and configuration is at an acceptable standard.

We will conduct an external port scan of your internet-facing IP addresses to ensure you are free from vulnerabilities and misconfigurations.

The configuration of your default email and internet browsers will be thoroughly tested to see how well they prevent the execution of potentially malicious files.

We will take screenshots throughout the process to document your configuration compliance to the Cyber Essentials Plus standard.

After you have achieved accreditation, we will review and resubmit your certification each year to ensure you are always compliant.

Not only are we authorised Cyber Essentials Plus assessors, we are also able to provide bespoke consultancy services (hypnerlink to separate webpage outlining our services and what we offer) to assist your team in meeting and maintaining the high standard of security required.