Cyber Essentials Support
Pass Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus the first time, without the paperwork pain.
Where it starts
Cyber Essentials is now a hard requirement for public sector tenders and many supplier frameworks. Most SMEs fail their first attempt on technical controls they could have fixed in a week.
What it costs
A failed certification stalls bids, frustrates customers and often costs more to fix retrospectively than it would have to prepare properly in the first place. Failed Plus assessments can put live contracts at risk.
How we work
We run a pre-assessment, fix the gaps with you, prepare every piece of evidence, and walk you through certification with an accredited body. You keep the certificate and the documentation.
Cyber Essentials Support Through Our CyberSmart Partnership
DefendVista is a CyberSmart Registered Partner. We help UK transport and logistics SMEs understand the Cyber Essentials requirements, assess their readiness, address practical security gaps and prepare for certification using CyberSmart's platform and partner resources.
Our role is readiness, implementation and practical support through your certification journey. The certificate itself is issued by a certification body, not by DefendVista.
Discuss Cyber EssentialsWhat it really costs to wait
Failed Cyber Essentials attempts cost more than the certification fee. They cost the bid that was open, the customer renewal that hinged on it, and the credibility of the team that pushed for it.
Self-certification without independent review regularly misses gaps that an assessor will find on day one. The assessor's report becomes a public record of those gaps.
What you will be able to say in 90 days
- Pass first time, or we keep working until you do
- Public sector and supply chain contracts unlocked at the next bid round
- Cyber insurance premiums reduced and renewals smoothed
- Reusable evidence pack that handles 80 percent of customer questionnaires
Illustrative scenario: a typical situation in this sector
This is a hypothetical example used to explain the problem. It is not a client engagement, and any figures shown are indicative only.
Context
A warehousing SME asked by its largest grocery customer to evidence Cyber Essentials Plus within 90 days.
Trigger
Internal IT runs a self-assessment, fails on patch management, MFA coverage and removable media controls.
Consequence
Without action, the customer triggers a supplier review clause and the contract goes to a tender process. The business spends six months defending volume it previously held by default.
How DefendVista would approach it
DefendVista's pre-assessment, remediation sprint and project-managed certification deliver Plus inside the 90 day window. The customer reconfirms the contract and shortens the supplier review cycle to annual.
What you get
- Pass first time or we keep working until you do
- Qualify for public sector and supply chain contracts
- Reduce cyber insurance premiums
- Documented baseline you can defend to auditors and customers
- Reusable evidence pack for tenders and supplier questionnaires
How an engagement runs
- 01
Pre-assessment
We run the official questionnaire against your live environment and identify every gap.
- 02
Remediation
We work alongside your IT team or MSP to close the gaps quickly and pragmatically.
- 03
Evidence pack
Screenshots, policies, asset lists and configuration exports prepared to the assessor's standard.
- 04
Certification
We project-manage the accredited body engagement and attend the assessment with you.
- 05
Annual renewal
Optional retainer keeps your environment certification-ready year on year.
Is this the right fit?
- SMEs bidding for public sector or major customer contracts
- Businesses asked for Cyber Essentials by a key supplier or insurer
- Organisations that previously failed a self-assessment attempt
Common questions
What is the difference between Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus?+
Cyber Essentials is a self-assessment. Cyber Essentials Plus adds a hands-on technical audit by an external assessor. Tenders increasingly require Plus.
How long does the whole process take?+
Typically 4 to 8 weeks depending on the size of your estate and how many remediation items we find.
Do you handle the certification body relationship?+
Yes. We project manage the entire engagement from kickoff to certificate.
What does it cost?+
Our support is a fixed fee scoped to the size of your environment. The certification body fee is separate and depends on the body you use. We will give you a single transparent quote.
Related industries, services and reading
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