New look Cyber Essentials scheme supports organisations to stay ahead of the cyber threat

Organisations in the UK will now benefit from a refreshed government-backed scheme which supports them to protect against the majority of cyber-attacks, including ransomware.

Cyber Essentials, which is developed by the National Cyber Security Centre – a part of GCHQ – and delivered by IASME, is a certification scheme that supports organisations of all sizes to guard against online threats and demonstrate a commitment to cyber security to customers and stakeholders.

It has been updated following a major technical review which will help organisations maintain their minimum cyber hygiene in an evolving threat landscape. Amongst the main changes are revisions to the use of cloud services, home working, multi-factor authentication, password management, and security updates.

Through the Cyber Essentials scheme, businesses can learn how to defend themselves by securing internet connections and devices, controlling access to data, and understanding how to protect against ransomware.

The benefits of achieving certification include being able to reassure customers that the data held by an organisation is resilient to an attack, the ability to attract new business with the promise that cyber security measures are in place, and having a clear picture of your cyber security level. To read more about this, click here.