Cyber Essentials & Cyber Essentials Plus Readiness
Protect what matters with Cyber Essentials & Cyber Essentials Plus Readiness
Cyber Essentials is a UK government-backed certification scheme, run by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), that shows an organisation has five basic technical controls in place: firewalls, secure configuration, user access control, malware protection and security update management. Aesparrow’s Cyber Essentials consultancy prepares you for Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus with a readiness assessment, remediation support and pre-assessment technical testing.
Cyber Essentials is a self-assessment verified by a certification body; Cyber Essentials Plus adds a hands-on technical audit of your devices and systems. We review your scope, test the five controls, fix gaps and run the same kinds of checks an assessor will perform, so you pass first time.
- Certified senior practitioners
- Audit-ready reporting
- Free re-test included
Cyber Essentials & Cyber Essentials Plus Readiness — done right, the first time.
Senior practitioners. Verified findings. Free re-test.
The five Cyber Essentials controls
Firewalls
Boundary firewalls and internet gateways configured to block unauthorised access.
Secure configuration
Default settings hardened and unnecessary software removed.
User access control
Least privilege, admin account control and MFA where required.
Malware protection
Anti-malware or application allow-listing in place.
Security update management
Supported software patched promptly for high and critical issues.
Why choose Aesparrow for Cyber Essentials readiness
- 1
First-time pass focus
Pre-assessment testing mirrors what the certification body checks.
- 2
Plus-ready
Technical testing of endpoints, patching and configuration for Cyber Essentials Plus.
- 3
Practical fixes
Clear remediation for each of the five controls.
- 4
Beyond the baseline
Roadmap to ISO 27001 when you are ready to go further.
Cyber Essentials is often required for public-sector contracts and is a strong baseline for any business. Talk to us about a Cyber Essentials readiness assessment.
Why Cyber Essentials & Cyber Essentials Plus Readiness matters
Independent research on the cost and causes of breaches — the risks this service helps you reduce.
US$4.44M
global average cost of a data breach in 2025.
241 days
mean time to identify and contain a breach in 2025.
20%
of breaches began with exploitation of a vulnerability, up 34% in a year.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus?
Can Aesparrow issue the Cyber Essentials certificate?
Ready to secure your business with Cyber Essentials & Cyber Essentials Plus Readiness?
Book a free, no-obligation consultation with an Aesparrow practitioner. We’ll scope your needs, explain the approach, and share indicative timelines — no sales script.
Standards & references
Related services
Guides & answers
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Let’s find the gaps before someone else does.
Tell us what you need tested for a fixed-scope quote, or talk it through with an Aesparrow practitioner — no obligation, no sales script.