NCSC Cyber Essentials Scheme to be Streamlined

The UK National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) CyberEssentials Scheme is to be streamlined from 1^st April 2020, with IASME named as sole partner.

It will become easier for UK businesses to protect themselves from the most common cyber-attacks as the UK government-backed cybersecurity scheme is streamlined.

• The Cyber Essentials Scheme is supported by the UK government to help businesses guard against the most common cyber threats.
• Over 30,000 UK businesses have gained Cyber Essentials certification since its launch in 2014 and this number is growing year on year.
• Naming IASME as the sole Cyber Essentials partner will streamline and grow the Scheme and ensure it keeps pace with the changing nature of the cybersecurity threat.

Cyber Essentials Scheme launched in 2014

Since its launch in 2014 the Cyber Essentials Scheme has helped to protect over 30,000 UK businesses from the most common cyber-threats. NCSC and IASME are committed to growing the Scheme, recognising its role in helping to make the UK one of the safest places to live and do business online.

The Cyber Essentials Scheme was developed to protect organisations against low-level “commodity threats”. It focuses on the five most important technical security controls that businesses should have in place to prevent malicious attacks. These controls were identified by the government as those that, if they had been in place, would have stopped the majority of the successful cyber-attacks over the last few years.

The success of Cyber Essentials Scheme means that it remains at the heart of the UK Government’s National Cyber Security Strategy, but an extensive consultation process highlighted the need to evolve the Scheme.

Since its launch, Cyber Essentials has been delivered through multiple Accreditation Bodies and their respective Certification Bodies. In order to simplify the customer experience and improve consistency, the NCSC have appointed a single Cyber Essentials partner to take over running the Scheme from 1^st April 2020. This will make the Scheme easier to run on a day to day basis and streamline the development process to ensure Cyber Essentials remains relevant. From now until 1^st April 2020 the Scheme will be  very much business as usual with organisations able to gain accreditation from all five Accreditation Bodies.

The current Certification Bodies have been instrumental in the success of the Cyber Essentials Scheme. Existing Certification Bodies will be encouraged to apply to the new Cyber Essentials Partner to continue to provide Cyber Essentials as part of the revised scheme. The Scheme also welcomes new Certification Bodies or anyone from the cyber security industry interested in promoting the Scheme.

IASME Chief Executive, Dr Emma Philpott, MBE, said: “We are extremely excited about the prospect of working in partnership with the NCSC to develop and grow the Cyber Essentials scheme. We have seen such a positive effect already over the last 5 years where Cyber Essentials has increased the basic levels of security across all sectors. We are so pleased that we can be part of the future developments, working closely with the excellent Certification Bodies, trade bodies, police and other key stakeholders, to ensure further growth of the scheme.”

Anne W, NCSC Head of Commercial Assurance Services, added: “The NCSC is looking forward to working in partnership with the IASME team to ensure that the scheme continues to evolve and meet the cyber security challenges of tomorrow; a scheme that puts cyber security within reach of the vast majority of UK organisations.”