Cyber Essentials is built around a small set of technical controls that reduce exposure to common attacks. For SMEs, the most useful approach is to treat certification as an opportunity to tidy the environment rather than a paperwork exercise completed once a year.
Know what is in scope
Make a clear list of user devices, servers, cloud services, firewalls and internet-facing systems. It is difficult to answer certification questions accurately if nobody has a reliable picture of the technology being used.
Get patching under control
Unsupported software and overdue security updates create avoidable risk. Review operating systems, browsers, applications, network equipment and devices that may have been forgotten in cupboards or meeting rooms.
Review user and admin access
Staff should have the access they need without everybody being an administrator. Remove dormant accounts, check leavers and confirm that privileged accounts are controlled.
Treat certification as a baseline
Cyber Essentials is valuable, but it is not the finish line. Backups, incident planning, staff awareness, monitoring and supplier risk still matter beyond the core technical controls.
A simple next step
Kazzoo has experience helping businesses strengthen the technical controls that sit behind Cyber Essentials and wider security good practice.
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Talk to Kazzoo
If you would like practical advice based on your current setup, contact Kazzoo. We support businesses across Leicester and Leicestershire with day-to-day IT support, infrastructure, security and technology planning.