October 1st 2024
WHICH IS THE BEST CYBER SECURITY CERTIFICATION FOR SMEs?
Most businesses know the importance of cyber security, but only some know what it takes to stay safe online all year round. With a cyber security accreditation, you’re given a framework to help protect your business from attacks and establish your commitment to best practices.
Unsurprisingly, 47% of people cut ties with a business after noticing its poor digital security. Don’t let this be you. Discover which cyber security certificate is best for your business and how an accreditation can eliminate the risk of losing your clients.
What Cyber Security Certificates Are Available?
There are hundreds of cyber security certifications available worldwide. For SMEs, our top recommendations are Cyber Essentials, Cyber Essentials Plus and the ISO 27001 standard.
Cyber Essentials
Cyber Essentials is a UK government-backed certification that protects organisations against 98.5% of the most common cyber threats. In an online self-assessment, you will submit evidence of five mandatory security controls your business has in place.
These technical controls include boundary firewalls, secure configuration, access control, malware protection and patch management.
Cyber Essentials offers a strong IT security foundation for SMEs, who are, on average, the most targeted by cyber attacks. This is a great stepping stone for learning the basics of cyber security before moving to a more rigorous certification.
Cyber Essentials Plus
Following the same Cyber Essentials assessment, the Cyber Essentials Plus certificate includes a technical review by accredited auditors. At Lily, we work with an accredited partner to validate the five technical controls and identify security vulnerabilities before you submit.
The Cyber Essentials Plus certification is perfect for SMEs requiring additional help during their accreditation journey. You’ll gain advanced insights into your security posture, which will prove beneficial when submitting your self-assessment for the first time.
ISO 27001
ISO 27001 is an information security standard created by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO). This ISO standard builds out the requirements for an ISMS (information security management system), which protects all information formats, including digital and hard copy.
You will be assessed against 114 security controls covering people, processes and technology. This is an advanced certification, so it won’t be suitable for all SMEs looking to cover the more basic requirements. We recommend ISO 27001 for specific sectors where cyber security is of maximum importance.
While ISO 27001 helps minimise information security risks, a Cyber Essentials certification will implement the necessary cyber security measures. The two certificates are a complementary match, which serves various business needs.
Why Should You Get Certified?
- Prevent financial loss - Cyber security breaches and attacks cost an average of £1,205 per instance and up to £10,830 for medium to large businesses. A certification eliminates these costs and keeps you protected against online threats.
- Builds trust - Accreditation demonstrates that your business is committed to cyber security, which builds loyalty and trust with clients or prospects.
- Increases client base - Entry-level certifications, like Cyber Essentials, allow you to bid for government contracts, helping you secure more clients in the public sector.
- Complies with the GDPR - Cyber security certifications ensure you have the right controls to minimise cyber data breaches and comply with data privacy regulations.
Start Your Cyber Essentials Certification Journey Today
Lily is qualified to help SMEs get certified in Cyber Essentials or Cyber Essentials Plus. Contact our team for more advice and guidance on which Cyber Essentials certification is best for your business.