Achieving Cyber Essentials (CE) & CE+ with Razorthorn

Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus are UK government-backed cybersecurity certification schemes that were created in response to an increasing number of cyber attacks. This certification sets out basic technical controls for organisations to guard against common cyber threats. Cyber Essentials covers requirements like firewalls, patch management, malware protection and access controls.

Cyber Essentials Plus includes additional assurance activities like penetration testing, more audits and verification of policies. The key benefits are demonstrating commitment to cyber security, reassuring stakeholders and protecting against common attacks. Cyber Essentials provides a baseline and Cyber Essentials Plus offers more advanced testing. Both are recommended for organisations handling sensitive data or commercial information.

Razorthorn has undertaken numerous CE and CE+ reviews, achieving compliance for our clients. We have worked with organisations of all sizes and industries.

Book a Free Consultation

Please leave a few contact details and one of our team will get back to you.

Benefits of Cyber Essentials Compliance

Demonstrates Commitment to Cybersecurity

Achieving Cyber Essentials demonstrates a commitment to cybersecurity and data protection, conveying a strong message to customers and stakeholders about the organisation’s dedication to safeguarding sensitive information.

Baseline Cybersecurity Controls

Cyber Essentials establishes a foundational set of cybersecurity controls, acting as a crucial defence against prevalent cyber threats such as malware, phishing, and unpatched software vulnerabilities. This baseline ensures a resilient security posture against common attack vectors.

Assurance Through Verification and Auditing

The independent verification and auditing requirements inherent in Cyber Essentials provide a robust assurance mechanism. They ensure that cybersecurity controls are not only in place but also properly implemented, enhancing the overall effectiveness of the security measures.

Government Contract Compliance

Organisations achieving Cyber Essentials meet essential cybersecurity requirements, making them eligible for bidding on specific government contracts. This compliance is instrumental in expanding business opportunities within government sectors.

Rigorous Penetration Testing

Penetration testing, a crucial component, rigorously evaluates how systems fare against simulated cyber attacks. This proactive approach identifies vulnerabilities and ensures systems’ resilience in the face of evolving cyber threats.

Supports Data Protection Compliance

Cyber Essentials supports compliance with data protection regulations, including GDPR, by showcasing the implementation of robust technical cybersecurity controls. This not only safeguards sensitive data but also aligns with regulatory expectations.

Promotion of Best Practices

Cyber Essentials promotes the adoption of cybersecurity best practices in critical areas such as access controls, malware prevention, patch management, and firewalls. This proactive approach significantly reduces the overall cyber risk faced by the organisation.

Foundation for Advanced Standards

Beyond meeting a baseline, Cyber Essentials provides a solid foundation. Organisations can build upon this foundation to adopt more advanced cybersecurity standards and frameworks, such as ISO 27001 or NIST. This ensures a continual enhancement of the organisation’s cybersecurity posture.

The Razorthorn Approach

Scoping and Gap Analysis

We will review your current status by performing a CE / CE+ gap analysis review as well as creating a tailored project plan. A report will be issued detailing the controls in place and a prioritised list of remediation recommendations to ensure compliance is met. We will be reviewing controls such as:

Planning and Remediation

We will help advise and assist you in planning the activities identified in the gap analysis phase. The approach will be bespoke to your business to ensure that you become compliant and remain compliant.

Achieving certification

In this final stage, the organisation will achieve certification and complete the schedule of ongoing activities for the year of the certification, including the development of an improvement plan along with identifying, fixing and preventing the recurrence of non-conformities. Razorthorn will support you throughout the certification audit process and beyond.