Cyber Essentials

Strengthen your organisation's cybersecurity defences by implementing effective controls in five distinct areas. The experts at the National Cyber Security Centre have created this standard to help protect against the most common attacks - and recent research proves it really works in practice.

Security Updates

Prevent cyber criminals using the vulnerabilities they discover in software as an access point to your systems

Malware Protection

Identify and immobilise viruses or other malicious software before it has a chance to cause harm

User Access Control

Who can access your data and services and what level of access they have

Secure Configuration

Minimises the avenues through which a cyber criminal can find a way in

Firewalls & Routers

Creates a security filter between the internet and your network

Why Cyber Essentials?


  • Help protect your organisation by putting in place simple and effective measures
  • Reassure your customers that you take your IT security seriously
  • Attract new business by demonstrating you have appropriate cyber security measures in place
  • Gain a clear understanding of your organisation's level of cybersecurity
  • Win contracts that require Cyber Essentials certification
  • As a bonus, you can get free Cyber Insurance with coverage of £25,000 and access to a 24/7 cyber emergency response team.

About Cyber Essentials


Cyber Essentials is a government backed scheme to help protect organisations, whatever their size and in any sector, against a wide range of common cyber attacks. These attacks come in many forms but the vast majority are very basic and carried out by low skilled individuals. Think of it as the digital equivalent of a burglar trying your front door to see if it is unlocked.

4N6 is part of a national network of licensed certification bodies that assess Cyber Essentials. The scheme as a whole is run by IASME on behalf of the National Cyber Security Centre, which is part of GCHQ.

How We Can Help

Every organisation is different, and so is the kind of support they need when working towards Cyber Essentials certification. Some are keen to get into the technical details, make the necessary changes, and complete the self-assessment on their own. Others prefer a bit more help along the way. That’s why we offer three service levels to support your journey towards Cyber Essentials certification.


We’re proud to be both a recognised Cyber Essentials Certification Body and a Cyber Advisor Assured Service Provider, working alongside the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to help improve cybersecurity for businesses and charities across the UK. By holding both statuses, we’re able to offer the advice and guidance you need to meet the standard which allows you to complete the certification process with confidence.


Our services have been independently assessed through the Cyber Advisor scheme, something only around a quarter of Certification Bodies have achieved. That means you can count on us to provide trusted, cost-effective support that’s designed especially for small and medium-sized organisations. We’ll help you meet the Cyber Essentials requirements, while also strengthening your cybersecurity overall.


Gap Analysis, Remediation Advice & Assessment

Our Cyber Advisor assured service will help you through the whole process of gaining Cyber Essentials certification.

  • We'll gather initial information from you, then discuss your current IT systems and ways of working. This will help us identify areas for improvement to meet the Cyber Essentials standards and to improve your security more generally.
  • We'll provide remediation advice, guiding you through how to make changes to your systems and policies to meet the requirements.
  • We'll assist you in formulating the answers to the self-assessment questionnaire.

We use a collaborative approach to ensure you are ready for certification, helping you successfully pass the assessment. We can get organisations through Cyber Essentials within a few days where you can make the required changes equally as quick. It is usually a more enjoyable process if the improvements take place over a period of 2-3 months.

Support, Pre-check & Assessment

Choose this option if you have a good understanding of the guidance documents and can put in place many of the controls yourself. We'll answer your queries about how to meet the standard, provide guidance on answering the questionnaire and also review your self-assessment responses prior to submission. This level of support is designed for those with technical knowledge who are going through Cyber Essentials for the first time.

Assessment Only

We will answer quick queries about how to meet the standard, but you will be expected to have read and understood the guidance, and complete the questionnaire yourself. The assessment fees are decided by IASME and are subject to adjustment from year to year. We recommend this option only if you are confident you already meet all criteria.

Not sure which option is right for you?

Contact us today to take the first steps to Cyber Essentials accreditation.

Gaining Cyber Essentials Certification: The DIY Route

Review the requirements, guidance and the questions

Before 28 April 2025

Cyber Essentials: Requirements for IT Infrastructure v3.1

Cyber Essentials Knowledge Hub

Question Set (PDF) - Montpellier

Question Set (Excel) - Montpellier

On or after 28 April 2025

Cyber Essentials: Requirements for IT Infrastructure v3.2

Cyber Essentials Knowledge Hub

Question Set (PDF) - Willow

Question Set (Excel) - Willow

Put in place any changes necessary to meet the standard

Assess yourself against the requirements and decide what needs to be done. If you need assistance, our Cyber Essentials gap analysis and remediation advice service can help.

Submit a questionnaire online for assessment

When arranging the assessment through us, we will endeavour to have your account set up within 24 hours. After submitting the questionnaire, the answers you've provided will need to be approved by someone at the highest level of your organisation. An assessor will then check the answers and get a response back to you, usually within 48 hours.

Get your result

If you've passed first time - congratulations! Your certificate will be available electronically and you'll be provided with a digital badge to put on your website.

If you don't pass on the first attempt, you have one opportunity to remedy any issues and resubmit your answers within a short timescale.

Maintain your certification

Once you've met the Cyber Essentials requirements, we're able to offer you our Cyber Essentials maintenance service. We'll be on hand for any quick cyber security queries throughout the year, including when you're planning on changing your systems or implementing new ones. When it comes time to renew your certification, we'll review the gap analysis, advise on any changes needed and assist you in preparing the annual questionnaire for submission.


Micro Organisations (1-9 People)

Gap Analysis, Remediation Advice & Assessment

£660+VAT

Support, Pre-check & Assessment

£510+VAT


Assessment Only

£320+VAT


Small Organisations (10-49 People)

Gap Analysis, Remediation Advice & Assessment

£840+VAT

Support, Pre-check & Assessment

£620+VAT


Assessment Only

£440+VAT


Medium Organisations (50-249 People)

Gap Analysis, Remediation Advice & Assessment

£990+VAT

Support, Pre-check & Assessment

£675+VAT


Assessment Only

£500+VAT


Large Organisations (250+ People)

Gap Analysis, Remediation Advice & Assessment


Contact Us

Support, Pre-check & Assessment

£750+VAT


Assessment Only

£600+VAT


Frequently Asked Questions