Get certified. Keep the headache out of it.
Cyber Essentials proves that the everyday doors into your business are properly locked. We check your setup, fix what needs fixing and help you turn a daunting questionnaire into a clear route to certification.
Independent certification. Plain-English preparation. No pass promises or badge theatre.
Five controls.
One clear standard.
Prepared with West View IT.
Assessed independently.
It is more than a badge for the footer
Cyber Essentials is the Government-recommended minimum cyber security standard. For a smaller business, that turns good housekeeping into something customers, insurers and procurement teams can actually recognise.
Give customers a straight answer
When someone asks how you protect their information, you can point to an independently assessed standard instead of sending a hopeful paragraph.
Keep tenders within reach
A growing number of buyers expect suppliers to hold Cyber Essentials. Being ready means a certificate does not become a last-minute blocker.
Close the ordinary ways in
Most attacks start with basic weaknesses. The scheme concentrates attention on five practical controls that make those attacks much harder.
Five locks on the everyday doors
The official wording can feel technical. The business outcome is refreshingly simple.
Filter what gets in and out
Put a managed boundary between your business and the public internet.
Switch off what you do not need
New devices and software start safe, without easy default settings left behind.
Close known gaps promptly
Supported software is kept current before criminals can exploit yesterday's weakness.
Give people the right keys
Staff get the access they need — and old or unnecessary privileges are removed.
Stop harmful software running
Devices are protected against malicious files, apps and code.
From “we should do this” to ready for assessment
Set the boundary
We agree what is included: people, devices, cloud services, offices and home working. A clear scope prevents surprises later.
Check the reality
We compare your current setup with the requirements and give you one prioritised list — already handled, needs attention, or needs a decision.
Close the gaps
We make the practical changes, coordinate anything owned by another supplier and collect useful evidence as we go.
Support the submission
We help you answer accurately and respond to assessor queries. The final decision stays where it should: with an independent Certification Body.
Our standard service already does much of the heavy lifting
Managed updates, protected devices, sensible access, multi-factor sign-in and secure Microsoft 365 settings already line up with much of what the assessment is looking for.
That alignment is valuable — but it is not an automatic pass. Cyber Essentials covers the agreed scope of your organisation, including anything outside our day-to-day management. We check the whole picture and say so plainly.
Already being looked after
- ✓Devices updated and monitored
- ✓Microsoft 365 secured to a defined baseline
- ✓Accounts protected and leavers closed down
- ✓Malware and suspicious activity watched
- ✓Evidence available when the assessor asks
Cyber Essentials or Cyber Essentials Plus?
Cyber Essentials
A verified self-assessment covering the five controls. A practical fit for businesses that want a recognised standard, customer reassurance or a tender requirement.
Best first step for most smaller businesses.Cyber Essentials Plus
The same five controls, with hands-on checks carried out by an independent assessor to verify that the protections work in practice.
Often chosen for higher-assurance supply chains.Cyber Essentials questions we hear every week
Is Cyber Essentials only for businesses that sell to government?
No. Some contracts require it, but many businesses use Cyber Essentials to reassure customers, strengthen tender responses and prove that the basics are being managed properly.
Does West View IT issue the certificate?
No. Certification is independently assessed through an IASME-licensed Certification Body. We prepare your environment, help close the gaps and support you through the assessment.
What is the difference between Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus?
Cyber Essentials uses a verified self-assessment. Cyber Essentials Plus covers the same five controls but adds independent hands-on technical testing.
Does your standard IT service mean we will automatically pass?
It gives managed clients a strong head start because many of the required habits are already part of the service. Certification still covers the agreed scope of your whole organisation, so we check the details rather than promise an automatic pass.
How long does certification last?
A Cyber Essentials certificate is valid for 12 months. The controls need to be maintained and the organisation must certify again each year to keep the certificate current.
Can you help if we are not already a West View IT client?
Yes. We can start with a readiness review, identify the practical gaps and agree the most sensible route to certification.
*The NCSC reports that organisations with Cyber Essentials were 80% less likely to make a cyber insurance claim, based on insurer data. Read the NCSC scheme overview and supporting analysis.
Owen Williams · Managing Director
Ready to make certification a manageable job?
Book a relaxed call with Owen. We will work out your likely scope, where our existing service already helps and the clearest route to assessment.
01449 798119 · enquiries@westviewit.co.uk