Without preparation
- Inconsistent security controls
- Unmanaged user permissions
- Increased cyber risk
- Uncertain certification confidence
Cyber Security
Cyber Essentials Certification Support
Cyber threats exploit simple weaknesses far more often than sophisticated attacks. We help you prepare for Cyber Essentials by reinforcing the foundational security controls that protect your business, and making certification straightforward.
The problem
Good cyber security starts with the fundamentals
Cyber threats exploit simple weaknesses rather than sophisticated attacks. The controls that matter most are often the everyday ones, how accounts are set up, how devices are updated and how access is managed across your business.
We help organisations prepare for Cyber Essentials by reinforcing those foundational security controls and streamlining the certification process, so the standard becomes something your business genuinely meets rather than a box to tick.
Common issues we identify
- User accounts with unnecessary administrator privileges
- Devices missing important security updates
- Multi-factor authentication applied inconsistently
- Unsupported software still connected to business systems
- Security policies not reflecting hybrid working arrangements
- Limited visibility into devices accessing company information
Certified & accredited
Credentials you can check
Cyber Essentials certified
Independently assessed against the UK government-backed scheme, so our security fundamentals are verified rather than simply claimed. We help clients certify too.
How Cyber Essentials helps you
Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider
A direct partnership with Microsoft. We license, deploy and support Microsoft 365 and Azure for you, with escalation straight to Microsoft when it is needed.
Our Microsoft cloud servicesCyber Essentials is a UK government scheme run by the National Cyber Security Centre, delivered by IASME. You can verify what the certification covers at source.
Why it matters
The difference Cyber Essentials preparation makes
With preparation
- Standardised security controls
- Controlled user permissions
- Stronger protection against cyber risk
- Greater confidence going into certification
Straight answers
Want to know what this would cost?
No rigid packages and no surprises. We price around your team, systems and goals, then give you a clear quote.
Our approach
Building practical security around everyday business operations
Cyber Essentials should reflect how your business really works. We assess your environment against the recognised standard, then help you strengthen the controls that make the biggest difference.
Assessing existing security controls
We review your current technology environment against recognised standards to see where you already meet the requirements and where gaps remain.
Strengthening user security
We evaluate accounts, authentication and access permissions so people have the right level of access and administrator rights are properly controlled.
Protecting business devices
We assess laptops, desktops and mobile devices to confirm they are securely managed, up to date and aligned with Cyber Essentials.
Improving security visibility
We give you a clearer understanding of your cyber security posture so you know exactly where you stand ahead of assessment.
Reducing certification risks
We identify gaps early to prevent assessment delays, so certification is smoother and free of last-minute surprises.
Supporting long-term cyber resilience
We help you develop practical security standards that last beyond certification and keep protecting your business as it grows.
Straight answers
Ready to get certified?
We will tell you honestly how close you already are, and what is actually left to do.
What we deliver
Cyber Essentials services built around real business requirements
Every engagement is shaped around your environment and delivered in plain English, with clear evidence and practical next steps, so certification strengthens your security rather than simply producing a certificate.
- A structured approach to Cyber Essentials preparation
- Stronger security controls across your technology environment
- Better protection for business systems and confidential information
- Practical recommendations based on recognised security standards
- Greater confidence ahead of Cyber Essentials certification
- Reduced cyber security risk through proactive improvements
Cyber Essentials readiness assessments
We assess your current security posture against the requirements, so you know precisely what is needed before going for certification.
Security gap analysis
We review infrastructure, Microsoft 365, devices and user management to pinpoint the gaps that would otherwise hold up assessment.
Security improvement planning
We prioritise recommendations by business impact so you tackle the changes that matter most, first.
User access reviews
We assess accounts, privileges and authentication methods to reduce unnecessary exposure and bring access under control.
Device security reviews
We confirm secure configuration and Cyber Essentials alignment across the laptops, desktops and mobile devices your team relies on.
Ongoing security guidance
We provide continuous advice as your technology evolves, helping you maintain the standard year after year.
Straight answers
Prefer to talk it through?
We answer the phone ourselves. No call queues and no ticket numbers just to ask a question.
Ben Wilmot, Director, Canbury Insights · see all 15 reviewsExcellent service. Great insight and highly supportive. Thank you Billy.
Case study
Preparing a growing accountancy practice for certification
The problem: Microsoft 365, remote working and endpoint security had been introduced over several years by different providers. Although the environment functioned well, inconsistent authentication settings, administrator permissions and ageing devices made it difficult to demonstrate compliance.
Our action: we completed a Cyber Essentials readiness review covering Microsoft 365 security, endpoint protection, authentication policies, device management and user permissions, then addressed the gaps that mattered most.
The result: a consistent security baseline across users and devices, privileged accounts reduced by over 20%, and leadership with far better visibility into ongoing security management.
24%
Less admin time on IT issues
21%
Better staff efficiency
4×
Visibility across locations
5 mo
To measurable results
Expertise you can trust
Why businesses trust WhizzIT with Cyber Essentials
Our engineers bring together more than 30 years of combined IT experience, supporting over 350 users, managing more than 500 business devices and resolving 2,000+ support requests during 2025. As a Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider, Cyber Essentials certified business and Bitdefender Partner, we prepare you for certification based on real operational experience.
30+ years combined experience
350+ users supported
500+ devices managed
Cyber Essentials certified
Great IT support company. The WhizzIT team are professional, responsive and easy to work with. It's reassuring to know we can rely on them.
No obligation
Not sure where to start?
Tell us the problem and we will point you to the right fix, even if that turns out not to be us.
Ongoing support
Maintaining Cyber Essentials standards as your business grows
Certification is a milestone, not the finish line. We help you keep meeting the standard as your technology, team and working practices change.
Security reviews
Regular assessments help identify emerging vulnerabilities before they affect your certification or your business.
User access management
We review permissions and account management processes so access stays appropriate as people join, move and leave.
Device protection
Ongoing management of laptops, desktops and mobile devices keeps them updated, secure and aligned with the standard.
Security improvement planning
We refine controls as your business grows, so your security keeps pace with new technology and requirements. See also our security awareness training.
Ready when you are
Want this looked at on your own setup?
We will review what you are running now and tell you what genuinely needs attention first.
Good to know
Cyber Essentials FAQs
Cyber Essentials is a recognised, government-backed scheme that sets out the fundamental technical controls every business should have in place, covering areas such as firewalls, secure configuration, user access control, malware protection and security update management. The scheme is owned by the National Cyber Security Centre, and there are two levels: Cyber Essentials, which is self-assessed and independently reviewed, and Cyber Essentials Plus, which adds hands-on technical verification of the same controls.
We assess your environment against the requirements, close the gaps that would otherwise hold up assessment and guide you through the certification process, so you go in confident rather than hoping for the best.
It depends on the current state of your systems. We start with a readiness assessment to identify any gaps, then agree a practical plan with you. Finding issues early is exactly how we keep certification smooth and free of last-minute delays.
Yes. The controls it covers protect against the most common attacks, it demonstrates to clients and partners that you take security seriously, and it is often required to work with public sector organisations and larger customers.
Cyber Essentials is renewed annually. We provide ongoing security reviews, user access management and device protection so you maintain the standard year after year rather than starting from scratch each time.
Technology partners
Brands we partner with
We hold partner status with the vendors behind the tools we deploy, so your licensing, support and escalation come direct from the source rather than through a reseller chain.
Ready when you are
Make Cyber Essentials certification straightforward
Book a free consultation and we'll assess where you stand and map the quickest route to certification.