Peeling Back the Sticker: Why Cyber Essentials Matters for Accountancy Firms

28th January

By Zowie Purnell, Marketing Coordinator

Human ignorance is a guilty sin.

We all do it.

My daughter picked up a pack of Reese’s the other day. Bright yellow sticker slapped right over the calorie count. You don’t need to see the number to know what’s coming – just read the ingredients. Sugar, fat, indulgence. But that sticker gives you permission to look away. Plausible deniability.

Cybersecurity works the same way.

According to 2024–2025 industry data, over 40% of cyber insurance claims are now being denied. One of the leading reasons? Misrepresented or misunderstood security controls including those required for Cyber Essentials.

Think about that for a moment.

Imagine believing you’re covered…
Only to find out, when it really matters, that you’re not.

That’s not bad luck. That’s reckless.

It’s the Reese’s effect:
You know what’s in it.
You know the consequences.
But you’re encouraged to turn a blind eye.

Do that long enough and it catches up with you. Tight jeans. Health issues. Long-term damage.

In cyber terms?
Operational disruption. Reputational damage. Regulatory fallout. And a denied insurance claim when you need it most.

Here’s what really blows my mind:

Only ~9% of UK accountancy practices hold Cyber Essentials certification
22% never test their backups
43% provide no regular cybersecurity training
Cyber attacks on accountancy firms are up over 300% since 2020

These firms hold vast amounts of sensitive financial and personal data. They’re prime targets.

And of that 9% who are certified…
How many are being completely honest about their controls?

Cyber Essentials isn’t about ticking a box.

It’s about lifting the sticker and facing the truth.

That’s exactly why, in May, we’re partnering with Cyber Smart for a Cyber Essentials training event to run an educational session for business leaders: