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Cyber Essentials Certification

Get Cyber Essentials certified without the stress

Cyber Essentials certification is a government-backed scheme that helps UK businesses protect against common cyber threats. We guide you through the entire process, handle the technical requirements and make sure you’re properly protected with cyber security – not just certified.

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0121 716 8888

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5 out of 5 based on 131 reviews

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Straightforward process

Certification from start to finish, explaining clearly and sorting out the technical requirements.

Built to last

We don’t just get you certified – we make sure the security controls fit how you work as a business.

Required for contracts

Many public sector contracts and some private tenders now require Cyber Essentials certification.

Expert support

Our team knows the scheme inside out and can get you certified efficiently, with minimal disruption.

What is Cyber Essentials?

Cyber Essentials is a UK government scheme, backed by the National Cyber Security Centre, that sets out five basic security controls every business should have in place.

It’s designed to protect against the most common cyber threats – the everyday attacks that account for the majority of successful breaches. These aren’t sophisticated nation-state attacks; they’re opportunistic attempts that exploit basic security gaps.

The certification demonstrates to customers, partners and insurers that you’ve implemented these fundamental protections. For businesses bidding on government contracts, it’s often a requirement.

Cyber Essentials is one part of a comprehensive approach to IT security. It works best alongside managed IT support and cyber security services to keep your business properly protected.

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Our Cyber Essentials services

We help businesses across Birmingham, the West Midlands and Warwickshire achieve Cyber Essentials certification and maintain their security controls year-round.

Initial assessment

We review your current setup to identify what needs attention before certification.

Technical implementation

We implement or adjust the required security controls, making sure everything meets the standard.

Application support

We handle the self-assessment questionnaire and submission through our certification body.

Cyber Essentials Plus

For Plus certification, we prepare your systems for the hands-on technical audit.

Ongoing support

After certification, we help maintain the controls so renewal is straightforward.

Clear guidance

We explain what’s needed in plain language, with no jargon or unnecessary complexity.

Cyber Essentials vs Cyber Essentials Plus

Both certifications cover the same five security controls. The difference is in how they’re verified. 

We can help you decide which level is right for your business based on your requirements and industry.

cyber essentials
  • Self-assessment questionnaire
  • Reviewed by an accredited assessor
  • Suitable for most businesses
  • Lower cost, faster process
  • Valid for 12 months
cyber essentials plus
  • Everything in Cyber Essentials
  • Plus hands-on technical testing
  • Assessor examines a sample of systems
  • Required for some contracts and sectors
  • Higher assurance level
  • Valid for 12 months

How we help you get certified

Getting Cyber Essentials certified is straightforward when you have the right support.

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Initial review

We assess your current setup against the five controls to see what needs work.

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Gap analysis

We identify any gaps or weaknesses that need addressing before you can certify.

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Implementation

We make changes to your systems, explaining what we’re doing and why.

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Certification

We complete the assessment and guide you all the way through to submission.

Why businesses get Cyber Essentials certified

Cyber Essentials isn’t just about ticking a box. When done properly, it strengthens your security posture and opens up opportunities.

If you bid for central government contracts above a certain value, Cyber Essentials certification is normally now mandatory.

Many private sector clients now expect or require suppliers to be certified, particularly in regulated industries.

Some cyber insurance policies require certification, and others offer better rates for certified businesses.

The five controls address the security gaps that attackers most commonly exploit in small businesses, including threats from phishing emails and malware.


Shows customers and partners that you take cyber security seriously and meet recognised standards.

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We deliver reliable IT support for businesses that want fewer problems and faster resolutions.

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  • Firewalls - Configure firewalls correctly to control traffic to and from your network.
  • Secure configuration - Remove unnecessary software and accounts, and configure systems securely.
  • Access control - Control who has access to your data and services, using appropriate permissions.
  • Malware protection - Use anti-malware software and keep it up to date across all devices. Our managed IT support includes endpoint protection and monitoring across your entire business.
  • Security updates - Apply security patches promptly to operating systems and applications.

The five security controls

Cyber Essentials is built around five key security controls designed to protect businesses from the most common cyber threats. These cover correctly configured firewalls, secure system settings, appropriate access control, effective malware protection and timely security updates.

While each control sounds straightforward on its own, applying them consistently across users, devices and systems requires proper planning and ongoing management. We help businesses implement these controls in a practical, proportionate way, ensuring they meet the standard without disrupting how the business operates.

The result is not just certification, but a more secure and reliable IT environment that is easier to maintain over time.

What makes our Cyber Essentials service different?

We explain things clearly

No jargon, no assumptions. We make sure you understand what’s needed and why.

We do the work

We don’t just point out what needs fixing – we actually implement the controls for you.

Security that makes sense

We configure controls to fit how your business works, not disrupt it.

We're already certified

As a Cyber Essentials certified provider, we know exactly what’s required.

Part of wider support

Cyber Essentials works best alongside IT support and cyber security – we provide both.

Renewal is easy

Because we implement controls, renewal is straightforward when it comes around.

Cyber Essentials FAQs

It depends on your current setup. For businesses with reasonable security already in place, we can often complete the process in a few weeks. If significant changes are needed, allow longer. We’ll give you a realistic timeframe after our initial assessment.

The certification body charges a fee based on your organisation size, and there’s our time for assessment, implementation and support. We provide a clear quote upfront with no hidden costs. Think of it as an investment in both security and business opportunities.

Cyber Essentials is sufficient for most businesses and government contract requirements. Cyber Essentials Plus is required in some sectors (like defence supply chain) or when clients specifically request it. We’ll advise which level you need based on your circumstances.

Cyber Essentials is valid for 12 months, after which you need to renew. Because we implement controls properly from the start, renewal is much simpler – often just confirming everything is still in place and up to date.

Yes. If you’re approaching renewal or struggling to maintain the controls, we can take over ongoing management and handle the renewal process for you.

The certification body may ask for clarifications or evidence of certain controls. We work with you to address any issues raised and resubmit. Failures are usually due to incomplete information rather than serious security gaps.

For businesses bidding on government work or operating in sectors where it’s expected, absolutely. For others, it depends on your priorities. We’re honest about whether it makes sense for your situation.

Cyber Essentials covers devices that connect to your network or the internet. The scope depends on your business setup. During assessment, we’ll help you define what needs to be included.

Yes. Our Managed IT Support includes maintaining Cyber Essentials controls as part of the ongoing service, making renewal straightforward.

Remote devices that access business systems need to be included. We can configure controls for remote working that are both secure and practical. This often includes endpoint protection, secure access controls, and email security.

Managed IT Support

Day to day IT management to keep your team productive and your systems stable.

Cyber Security

Keep your business protected with layered security, updates and threat monitoring from our team.

Microsoft 365 & Cloud

We can handle the setup, support and management of Microsoft 365, email and secure cloud working.

Looking to switch your IT Support to Birmingham Telecom ?

If you prefer to have a brief chat, call our IT Support Team on 0121 716 8888 to get started.

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