Cyber Essentials Plus

Purpose

Cyber Essentials Plus is the highest level of assurance available under the Cyber Essentials scheme. While standard Cyber Essentials certification is based on a self-assessment questionnaire, Plus adds an independent technical audit carried out by an accredited Certification Body.

For startups and SMEs, Cyber Essentials Plus provides external validation that your security controls are not only in place on paper but are effective in practice. This level of certification is often required for government contracts, high-value supply chains, or organisations handling sensitive information.

What’s Included

Independent Audit

An accredited Certification Body conducts hands-on testing to verify that the five Cyber Essentials control areas are correctly implemented.

Vulnerability Scans

Checks to ensure operating systems and applications are fully patched and up-to-date, reducing exposure to known exploits.

Configuration Testing

Examination of devices and firewalls to confirm secure configuration, password policies, and user access restrictions are enforced.

Malware Protection Assessment

Validation that anti-malware solutions are correctly deployed and updated, providing effective protection against common threats.

User Access Checks

Review of account permissions to confirm that only appropriate staff have administrative rights and that access is limited on a least-privilege basis.

Reporting & Findings

The audit results in a detailed report highlighting areas of compliance, any failures, and remediation steps required to achieve certification.

Benefits

Independent Validation

Unlike the self-assessed standard, Cyber Essentials Plus demonstrates that your security posture has been independently verified through technical testing.

Stronger Supply Chain Trust

Many larger organisations and government contracts mandate Plus, making it a key requirement for SMEs wanting to scale into regulated or sensitive markets.

Reduced Risk Exposure

The audit process highlights hidden vulnerabilities that may not be apparent during internal reviews, allowing proactive remediation.

Competitive Differentiator

Achieving Plus signals maturity, professionalism, and resilience – setting you apart from competitors with only baseline certification.

Foundation for Advanced Frameworks

Plus prepares SMEs for adopting more rigorous standards such as ISO 27001, SOC 2, or DORA, as it demonstrates an ability to withstand external scrutiny.

Why It Matters for Startups and SMEs

• Startups targeting enterprise clients gain immediate credibility by demonstrating independently verified security.

• SMEs competing in regulated markets can meet mandatory contract requirements.

• Achieving Plus can provide assurance to investors, partners, and customers that security practices are robust and scalable.

Common Challenges

SMEs often encounter hurdles during the Plus audit, such as:

• Inconsistent patching across devices

• Over-provisioned user access or excessive admin rights

• Misconfigured firewalls or cloud services

• Unmanaged legacy systems still in operation

• Lack of centralised logging or monitoring

Addressing these challenges prior to the audit – through a pre-audit readiness review – significantly increases the chance of success.

Example Scenario

A 25-person professional services SME was required by a new client to obtain Cyber Essentials Plus. During the pre-audit review, they discovered:

• Several laptops running unsupported operating systems

• Multiple shared admin accounts without MFA

• Outdated antivirus on legacy servers

With guided remediation, the firm addressed these issues within four weeks, passed the independent audit, and secured a multi-year contract with their new client.

How It Fits into the Cyber Essentials Journey

Cyber Essentials Plus represents the final stage of assurance:

• Light → Readiness assessment and gap analysis

• Cyber Essentials → Official certification

• Cyber Essentials Plus → Independent validation through technical audit

For many SMEs, Cyber Essentials Plus is the point where cybersecurity maturity is externally recognised, giving them a competitive edge in markets where trust is critical.

Benefits of Partnering with Phenomlab for Cyber Essentials

• Founder-Led Expertise: Direct access to senior professionals with 30+ years of IT and cybersecurity leadership.

• Tailored Guidance: Practical support designed for SMEs and startups, scaled to your resources and risk profile.

• Confidence in Compliance: Structured readiness reviews and remediation support that reduce the risk of certification failure.

• Beyond the Checklist: We embed improvements that strengthen your resilience, not just your certification application.

• Trusted Partnership: Acting as an extension of your team, we handle complexity while you focus on growth.

• Future-Ready Security: Cyber Essentials is your launchpad to advanced frameworks like ISO 27001, SOC 2, and DORA.