Cyber Essentials (UK)
Cyber Essentials is a UK government-backed cybersecurity certification scheme that helps organizations protect themselves against the most common cyber attacks.
Last updated Apr 11, 2026Current
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Cyber Essentials is a UK government-backed cybersecurity certification scheme that helps organizations protect themselves against the most common cyber attacks.
# Cyber Essentials (UK)
Cyber Essentials is a UK government-backed cybersecurity certification scheme that helps organizations protect themselves against the most common cyber attacks. Developed by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) in partnership with industry, the scheme defines five technical security controls that, when properly implemented, can prevent approximately 80% of cyber attacks. The certification comes in two levels: Cyber Essentials (self-assessment) and Cyber Essentials Plus (verified by an external assessor through hands-on testing).
Cyber Essentials defines five foundational security controls:
1. Firewalls: Ensure that devices connected to the internet are protected by a properly configured firewall or equivalent network device. This includes boundary firewalls, host-based firewalls, and router configurations. Default administrative passwords must be changed, and only necessary network services should be accessible.
2. Secure Configuration: Configure computers, devices, and software to reduce vulnerabilities. Remove unnecessary software, change default passwords, disable auto-run features, and ensure only necessary user accounts exist with appropriate privileges.
3. User Access Control: Control who has access to data and services. Use unique user accounts, grant only the access needed for each role, implement strong password policies (minimum 8 characters for regular accounts, 12 for administrative), and use multi-factor authentication where available.
4. Malware Protection: Protect against malware through at least one of: anti-malware software configured for automatic updates and scanning, application whitelisting, or sandboxing. Keep anti-malware signatures updated and scan files automatically on access.
5. Security Update Management (Patching): Keep devices and software up to date. Apply critical and high-severity patches within 14 days of release. Remove unsupported software or isolate it from the network. Enable automatic updates where possible.
Certification process:
Since April 2023, the scheme has been updated to include requirements for cloud services, home working devices, and multi-factor authentication.
Cyber Essentials is mandatory for UK government contracts involving the handling of sensitive or personal information. Beyond government procurement, it has become a widely recognized baseline standard across UK industries. Insurance providers often offer better terms to certified organizations. Supply chain partners increasingly require it as a minimum security standard.
The scheme succeeds because of its simplicity. Rather than overwhelming small and medium businesses with comprehensive frameworks like ISO 27001 or NIST CSF, Cyber Essentials focuses on five actionable controls that address the most common attack vectors. This makes it achievable for organizations without dedicated security teams.
The data supports its effectiveness. NCSC analysis shows that Cyber Essentials controls mitigate the vast majority of commodity cyber attacks: phishing, ransomware, password attacks, and exploitation of unpatched vulnerabilities.
Cyber Essentials maps to CDA's Security Posture & Hygiene (SPH) domain under the Autonomous Posture Command (APC) methodology. We view it as an excellent starting point, not a destination. The five controls align closely with our foundational posture assessment in M-SPH-R01.
CDA's operational approach:
CDA recommends Cyber Essentials Plus (externally verified) over the basic self-assessment. Self-assessment introduces the risk of unconscious gaps. External verification provides genuine assurance that the controls are working as intended.
For organizations outgrowing Cyber Essentials, CDA provides a clear escalation path through the PDM domains to more comprehensive frameworks like ISO 27001 and NIST CSF.
CDA Theater missions that address topics covered in this article.
Written by Evan Morgan
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