Cyber Essentials Plus: Proving Your Business Is Protected Against Common Cyber Threats

In today's digital landscape, cyber attacks have become an everyday threat for businesses of all sizes. From data breaches to ransomware attacks, the risks are real and growing. That’s why achieving Cyber Essentials Plus certification has become essential for companies that want to protect their operations and demonstrate their commitment to cybersecurity. For businesses partnering with an experienced IT Service Provider like Blue Saffron, the journey to certification becomes a strategic advantage rather than a challenge.

Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus are government-backed accreditation schemes designed to safeguard UK businesses against the most common cyber attacks. Think of these schemes as your virtual security guard — ensuring your digital front door is locked against opportunistic hackers. Cyber attacks often come from relatively unskilled individuals looking for easy targets. These certifications prove your business is not one of them.

While Cyber Essentials focuses on self-assessment of your IT infrastructure, Cyber Essentials Plus goes a step further. It includes an independent assessment to verify that your defences are not just theoretical but actively working. By achieving Cyber Essentials Plus, you show your clients, regulators, and partners that you have done more than just the basics — you’ve gone the extra mile to protect sensitive data and ensure business continuity.

Partnering with Blue Saffron, a trusted IT Service Provider and Cyber Essentials Plus certified business, can simplify the process. With over a decade of experience helping medium-sized companies navigate complex IT security landscapes, Blue Saffron understands the challenges businesses face. They begin by performing a full IT security audit, identifying vulnerabilities and crafting a step-by-step plan to achieve certification.

The Cyber Essentials Plus certification process examines five critical areas of your IT infrastructure:

1. Firewalls – These act as a barrier against unauthorised access, ensuring only trusted traffic enters your network.
2. Secure Configuration – Systems are checked to ensure they are set up in the most secure way possible, reducing exposure to threats.
3. User Access Control – Access to systems is restricted to authorised personnel, keeping internal data safe from unauthorised users.
4. Malware Protection – Up-to-date anti-virus and anti-malware solutions are in place to detect and prevent malicious software attacks.
5. Patch Management – Ensuring all software is regularly updated, closing vulnerabilities before attackers can exploit them.

These areas are rigorously tested through a Vulnerability Assessment, using specialist tools to scan your entire IT environment. The results are then analysed and presented as actionable recommendations, giving you a clear roadmap to fortify your business against cyber threats.

The benefits of Cyber Essentials Plus go far beyond compliance. Certification demonstrates that you take IT security seriously — a vital statement for clients in sensitive industries such as legal services, finance, and recruitment. It is also a mandatory requirement if you wish to bid for government and public sector contracts, instantly widening your business opportunities.

Moreover, achieving Cyber Essentials Plus provides peace of mind. It reassures your clients that their data is secure and confirms your resilience against attacks. In an era where data breaches can result in heavy regulatory fines and reputational damage, having this level of protection is not just prudent — it’s essential.

As one satisfied client, John Leyden, CEO of Carbon Accountancy, shared:

“We talked with many companies during a six-month selection process. Ultimately, we liked the flexibility and friendliness of the Blue Saffron approach; they took the time to understand our business and were willing to take on the roll-out and subsequent support.”

Blue Saffron’s suite of services extends beyond certification. From Managed Security Services to Security Strategy & Consultancy, they provide end-to-end support for your cybersecurity journey. Whether you need Security Testing & Audits, ongoing Cybersecurity Training & Awareness, or simply guidance on becoming cyber-certified, Blue Saffron is your trusted partner.

Want to understand how Blue Saffron can keep your business secure and help you gain Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation? Contact their team today at 0844 560 0202 and take the first step towards comprehensive cyber protection.