Cyber Essentials accreditation can greatly benefit your business. This proves to employees and clients alike that you take cyber security risks seriously. You may also have a greater pool of clients to choose from when you prioritise cyber security.
Among the many benefits of gaining Cyber Essentials accreditation is being listed as a secure business with IASME and the National Cyber Security Centre. This can help to create positive brand awareness, and even set you ahead of competitors.
Before you even think about your Cyber Essentials certification, you may first want to consider the devices you use. This can include computers – both laptops and desktops, as well as tablets, smartphones, and even payment devices. Each of these has the capacity to fall victim to cyber-attacks.
You might also want to think about the current cyber security products and services you use. Invoices and certificates act as proof of purchase for Cyber Essentials, showing if you’ve got up-to-date anti-virus software for your business, or even if penetration testing has been undertaken.
You may need to further prove that you have adequate security measures in place. Opting for a single-use anti-virus when there are dozens, if not hundreds, of devices in use at your business won’t be enough.
You need to ensure that anti-virus software is installed and regularly updated on each. This includes any devices that belong to employees, so long as they are used for business purposes.
Ransomware and threat protection are also vital, as incidents such as these could be absolutely debilitating for your business, as well as suppliers or clients.
One of the simplest yet most crucial steps towards passing your Cyber Essentials can be to ensure that strong passwords are used for each account you hold. Learning how to make your passwords more secure can be relatively easy. The trickier part is remembering numerous, complex passwords.
It is estimated that people have about 100 passwords across all their accounts. However, weak passwords cause around 30% of data breaches. This is quite a significant chunk, showing just how vital your passwords are to business security.
Following a few simple steps is imperative when setting a password.
Your entire network can be at risk if not properly secured. You need to ensure that different security models are in place to keep hackers out and protect users when working or using the internet.
Firewalls are a good first step as these can prevent any dangerous downloads or installations. A free software may only give you a limited amount of coverage. Therefore, you should investigate the different firewall companies, and what you get, prior to choosing a subscription.
You also need to consider your actual internet. Many companies choose to utilise Wi-Fi capabilities within their offices. While this can allow wider connectivity, it can also result in an increase in data breaches. You should ensure that your main wireless networks have secure codes to prevent unauthorised access. You will also benefit from having a separate guest network for clients or visitors to use.
It is good practice to limit file access only to those who require them to be able to complete their work. As an example, this may mean limiting access to sensitive staff or client information for anyone who isn’t a senior manager or part of HR.
There is a variety of information that an employer can keep on record about their employee which, if incorrectly handled, could cause severe anguish or financial or reputational damage to that individual if this information were leaked.
Part of the Cyber Essentials accreditation involves demonstrating how you protect all data that your business receives. This can include ensuring that each employee only has access to essential information. This can be achieved by changing permissions on a person-by-person basis when using file-sharing or cloud-based storage solutions.
As a responsible business, you should be backing up all data. This doesn’t just help to protect you in the event of cyber threats. It can also be a good working practice to keep your data safe from other factors.
Consider what you would do if a machine were to break, or your office suffered a flood or fire. In these instances, the device the files were saved on may be irreparably destroyed and the files no longer recoverable. Backups ensure that you have the information regardless of the circumstance.
When undertaking data backups, it may be beneficial to have them run automatically. This means that you don’t need to rely on a person to remember to update any existing backups. These should also be tested to ensure they work as needed.
Any software you use should be updated as soon as a new patch or installation becomes available. While some updates can help you to make better use of the programs, others may contain vital security updates to combat the latest threats.
In particular, you should also consider operating system updates. Windows regularly releases new security patches to help keep your device and its contents free from cyber-attacks. Failure to do so may provide hackers with easy entry points or prevent your machine from running correctly.
Teamwide training and testing is a crucial part of both Cyber Essentials and general digital care that you should not overlook. There are always benefits to allowing your team the opportunity to build on their working knowledge. Yet, when it comes to cyber security, this could give you an additional layer of protection.
Team testing and training will help your team to spot the signs of scams and phishing, keeping it in the forefront of their minds. Should a real attempt occur, everyone will then be equipped with the knowledge required to avoid falling into these traps.
Facilitating a single team training session, or even one on an annual basis, isn’t enough. Ongoing training and testing can be valuable assets in your cyber security measures.
Another aspect of cyber essentials is to have incident response plans thought out before situations arise. Incident response plans should detail a step-by-step plan on what your employees should do if a cyber-attack occurs.
Within that plan, you may want to also think about who needs to be informed if an attack is successful. This can include managers and senior members of your team, as well as reporting a data breach to the Information Commissioner’s Office.
Having dedicated support with your overall IT and cyber security could greatly help you achieve Cyber Essentials certification. Even when gained, it is important to keep in mind that cyber security is an ongoing process. As cyber threats develop and adapt, so must you to remain secure.
Syn-Star can help you to stay ahead of even the most intricate or convincing cyber threats. Book a meeting today for guidance on your Cyber Essentials application, or cyber security as a whole.
Anne-Marie Blazdell
Anne-Marie Blazdell is a Marketing & Communications Manager with expertise in digital marketing, content creation, and IT solutions. With a strong foundation in graphic design, she trained at Farnborough College of Technology and Southampton Solent University before advancing into marketing and business IT support.
Since joining Syn-Star in 2022, Anne-Marie has specialised in crafting SEO-optimised website content, managing social media, and helping businesses navigate the complexities of IT. Her work bridges the gap between technology and business, making IT more accessible and effective.
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Anne-Marie Blazdell
Anne-Marie Blazdell is a Marketing & Communications Manager with expertise in digital marketing, content creation, and IT solutions. With a strong foundation in graphic design, she trained at Farnborough College of Technology and Southampton Solent University before advancing into marketing and business IT support.
Since joining Syn-Star in 2022, Anne-Marie has specialised in crafting SEO-optimised website content, managing social media, and helping businesses navigate the complexities of IT. Her work bridges the gap between technology and business, making IT more accessible and effective.
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