How long does getting Cyber Essentials certification take?

This will vary depending on the setup of your current IT in your business. Our accredited engineers will go through an assessment, and then give you an idea of what you'll need to be ready to submit your business for certification.

Agile Technical Solutions Are Cyber Essentials Assessors

Agile Technical Solutions are accredited Cyber Essentials assessors. The UK National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) backed scheme helps organisations reduce cyber risk and demonstrate security to clients and suppliers.

Being a Certified Body for assessments means our engineers have been through additional training in order to meet the high standards and code of conduct needed to score and approve other businesses. So you’re in good hands!

Here’s what the accreditation means and how to get certified.

What is Cyber Essentials?

Cyber Essentials is a government-backed certification scheme designed to help organisations protect against common cyber threats. It is overseen by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and administered by the IASME Consortium. The scheme focuses on five key controls:

Firewalls and internet gateways
Secure configuration
User access control (including MFA)
Malware protection
Patch management and security updates

Read more on the official NCSE site here.

Cyber Essentials vs Cyber Essentials Plus

There are two levels of certification available:

Cyber Essentials
a self-assessment questionnaire verified by an independent assessor.

Cyber Essentials Plus
a higher level of assurance which includes independent technical testing and verification.

Our Assessment Process

Our process is designed to make certification as smooth as possible. It typically follows these steps:

Scope – agreeing the systems and services to be included.
Gap analysis – identifying areas requiring improvement.
Remediation – helping you address any security gaps.
Assessment – completing the self-assessment or independent test.
Certification – achieving your Cyber Essentials certificate.
Renewal – annual re-certification to maintain compliance.

Timelines, Costs and What You’ll Need

Cyber Essentials certification can usually be achieved within days to a few weeks, depending on the scope and whether remediation work is required. Costs vary depending on your organisation’s size.

Contact Agile to confirm current pricing.

Benefits for SMEs and Supply Chains

Cyber Essentials certification provides visible assurance to clients and partners that your business takes cyber security seriously. It is increasingly a requirement for government tenders, large supply chains, and insurers.

The accreditation also helps SMEs demonstrate good practice and improve overall resilience.

£25,000 of free Cyber Insurance
Reassure your customers
Attract new customers
Help protect your business

Next Steps

01206 700930

If you are considering Cyber Essentials certification, Agile are here to help.

As an accredited assessor, we can guide you through the process, provide remediation advice, and ensure your organisation achieves the right level of certification.

We’ve helped many of our clients attain Cyber Essentials certification already, and we’ve continued our commitment to safeguarding our clients by becoming a certified assessor.