What Is Cyber Essentials?
The Cyber Essentials certification scheme is UK government-backed and designed to help organisations protect themselves against the most common online threats. It focuses on key areas of IT Security, ensuring businesses have the appropriate basic security measures in place to protect its computers, devices, networks and sensitive data from common cyber attacks. The certification focuses on five core areas of security and involves a business completing a verified self-assessment.

Why Cyber Essentials Is Important For Businesses in 2026
It is estimated that around 12% of small businesses in the UK hold an official Cyber Essentials certification (according to gov.uk).
The latest 2026 government campaign encourages UK businesses to achieve Cyber Essentials certification and take practical steps to improve cyber resilience . The campaign launched on 17 February 2026, encourages businesses to lock their doors to cyber criminals.
For more information about Cyber Essentials support, call our experts today on 01995 600700.

How Does Cyber Essentials Help Your Business?
- Helps protect your business against common cyber attacks
- Identifies weaknesses in your IT security
- Can support cyber insurance requirements
- Can help you meet customer and supply-chain requirements
- Can help businesses qualify for certain contracts
- Builds customer and supplier confidence
- Provides a recognised cyber security benchmark

Our Cyber Essentials Process
1. Initial consultation
Understand your current IT environment and security controls.
2. Identify security gaps
Review the areas covered by the Cyber Essentials requirements.
3. Remediation
Help address any weaknesses identified such as malware protection, software updates, secure configurations and user access controls.
4. Prepare for certification
Assist you with the certification process and required information.
5. Certification
Complete the relevant assessment through the appropriate certification route.

Cyber Essentials
Providing businesses a straightforward way to demonstrate they are following essential cyber security best practices, the standard Cyber Essentials certification is an independently verified self-assessment process. The answers need to accurately reflect your organisation’s IT infrastructure and security.
However, it’s essential that the certification is completed accurately and honestly, especially if it forms part of your cyber insurance requirements.
Even a single gap in your security controls, such as one user not having Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) enabled, could put you at risk of a rejected claim in the event of a cyber incident.
Reassuringly, the current government campaign says organisations certified with Cyber Essentials made 92% fewer insurance claims in the previous year which is a good thing.
That’s why it’s so important to get Cyber Essentials done properly, not just completed.

Cyber Essentials Plus
Before your Preston-based company can achieve Cyber Essentials Plus, you must first complete the verified Cyber Essentials self-assessment.
Cyber Essentials Plus includes the same five core security controls, but instead of relying on self-assessment alone, it provides greater assurance through your systems being independently tested by a qualified assessor and is working in practice, and not just on paper.
Because of this, preparation is key. To give yourself the best chance of passing first time, it makes sense to work with an experienced IT professional before the external assessment takes place.
At AMP InfoSys, we guide businesses through the entire process, helping you get properly prepared, avoid common pitfalls, and achieve certification with confidence.
One of our team members has recently completed training as a Cyber Essentials Assessor, and we are now working with local businesses to perform Cyber Essentials Readiness Checks to prepare for accreditation & assist with the basic CE certificate.
In partnership with CyberSmart, we are also able to work with businesses to gain CE Plus accreditation.

In Partnership with CyberSmart
We support businesses right across Preston through Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus helping you to achieve certification properly, and strengthen your cyber security and protect the systems your business relies on every day.
Whether you are preparing for Cyber Essentials for the first time or looking to progress to Cyber Essentials Plus, our team of security experts can help your business understand what is required and prepare your IT systems for certification.
Call us on 01995 600700 to start your cyber security journey with us.

Need Help with Cyber Essentials?
Some Cyber Essentials self-assessment questions can be difficult to interpret especially if you don’t have a technical IT background or your business has a more complex structure.
If you’re getting started on your own, there are helpful free resources available through the official Cyber Essentials scheme, including guidance on the website and a free 30-minute call with their team. You can find support and further information via IASME Consortium.

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