Cyber Essentials is a government-backed certification scheme that helps businesses to protect themselves against cyber threats. In 2024, 50% of businesses reported a breach or attack. This isn’t just targeting huge multinational enterprises. Small and medium businesses are also targeted. Your business’s data is valuable to bad actors, even if you don’t realise it is.
This is why the UK government introduced the Cyber Essentials certification scheme. The scheme guides businesses through the process of protecting their data. Complete the certification, and you’ll be added to the NCSC’s public database.
Cyber Essentials also shows other organisations that you take security seriously. As such, Cyber Essentials has become a prerequisite for many high-profile government, military, and private sector contracts. If your design business wants to win these contracts, consider getting certified.
At CAD Software Direct, we’ve partnered with our friends at Business Defence Systems to offer a Cyber Essentials package that helps you get certified.
What is Cyber Essentials?
Cyber Essentials is a UK government-backed cybersecurity certification designed to help businesses protect themselves from the most common threats. The IASME, the government’s certification body, describes Cyber Essentials as the minimum standard for cyber security.
The certification program covers 5 core areas:
- Firewall
- Secure configuration
- Security update management
- User access control
- Malware protection
The certification offers a straightforward and cost-effective approach to improving cyber resilience, making it particularly valuable for small and medium-sized businesses in creative industries like design.
The certification comes in two levels: Cyber Essentials, a self-assessment that helps businesses establish foundational security, and Cyber Essentials Plus, which involves a technical audit from a third-party assessor.
Why Design Businesses Need Cyber Essentials
Cyber Essentials helps design businesses manage their cyber risks. Addressing common threats and improving security gives you benefits that protect your creative teams, client data, and business operations.
Client Confidence
Clients want to know their information is safe. Companies often work on projects with high-value IPs that might be in the process of receiving patents. If these properties fall into the wrong hands, they could scupper huge investor deals or ruin a company’s chance at receiving IP. Some businesses must also protect military or governmental secrets or building blueprints from falling into the wrong hands.
Additionally, Cyber attackers might try to attack a business to gain access to client data, such as email addresses or financial data. Clients want to know their details are safe and the extra reassurance from your company might be a factor in winning a contract. Cyber Essentials helps companies to reduce the risk of cyber attacks by ensuring that the basic cyber security steps are set up.
Reducing Operational Disruption
Bad actors seek to cause chaos in the world, including slowing down productivity. For example, a hacker could shut down the company’s computer network, stopping all work from being done and delaying project completion. A data breach or ransomware attack could result in substantial financial loss, reputational damage, and legal complications.
Design professionals frequently use cloud-based tools for collaboration. These platforms, while powerful, can introduce vulnerabilities if not configured securely. Weak passwords, improper access controls, or outdated software create entry points for attackers. Cyber Essentials includes guidance on securing accounts, managing permissions, and keeping software current, all of which are critical to safeguarding collaborative workflows.
Remote work is another factor that increases cybersecurity risks. Many design teams operate with freelancers or distributed teams, often accessing company systems from personal devices or unsecured networks. Cyber Essentials addresses this by providing clear standards for secure internet connections and endpoint security, reducing the likelihood of data breaches caused by remote work practices.
Avoid Financial Risk
The certification also offers financial benefits. Preventing cyber attacks saves money that would otherwise be spent on recovery, legal fees, or fines for noncompliance with data protection laws. Many insurers now recognise Cyber Essentials certification, which can reduce cyber insurance premiums. For design businesses with tight budgets, this is a tangible ROI.
So, Cyber Essentials is a must for design businesses that want to secure themselves, their reputation, and their clients.
How to Get Started with Cyber Essentials
For design businesses looking to secure their operations and demonstrate commitment to cybersecurity, obtaining Cyber Essentials certification can be tricky if you’re new to cyber security. The process is a lot better with excellent tools and platforms.
One of the most accessible ways to begin is through Cyber Smart’s digital portal, offered via Business Defence Systems. This platform streamlines the Cyber Essentials process, guiding businesses step-by-step to certification. It simplifies what can feel like a complex task, allowing businesses to focus on adopting practical security measures without unnecessary complications.
The portal can be installed on all devices within your organisation and continually monitors for updates and security threats, which are displayed on the main dashboard. The portal also includes cybersecurity training to help employees understand how to protect the business (and themselves) from cyber attacks.
However, the best bit of the portal is the auto-filling of answers for the Cyber Essentials Self-Assessment quiz. It makes things a lot easier to complete, especially if you are new to cyber security or don’t have an IT team to help. Once you complete the certification, you’ll also receive free cyber security insurance.
Conclusion
Cyber Essentials isn’t just another box to tick. The certification is a proactive way to protect your design business from cyber threats. Whether you’re delivering an important project, ensuring smooth collaboration, or maintaining client trust, this certification equips you with the tools to stay secure in an increasingly digital world.
Get started with Cyber Smart’s Cyber Essentials portal today.