New beginnings for the Cyber Essentials Scheme and a proud day for the IASME team.

Today (1^st April 2020) marks the day the IASME Consortium takes over the delivery of the National Cyber Security Centre’s (NCSC) Cyber Essentials scheme. The scheme, which is an important part of the NCSC’s portfolio, teaches businesses how to protect themselves from the most common internet based cyber threats and reassure their customers that cyber security is taken seriously. From today, IASME will be the Cyber Essentials Partner.

So, why change this popular cyber security certification scheme? Despite the success of the scheme, with over 40,000 certificates being issued since its inception, NCSC felt that the path to certification could be made clearer. They also wanted to ensure the standard was being implemented consistently across the UK and that assessor and advisor standards were the same across the board.

This relaunch of the Cyber Essentials Scheme is the result of comprehensive customer research carried out by the NCSC.  This research highlighted that customers were confused by the use of five different organisations to deliver the scheme. The confusion arose because each one operated the scheme in a slightly different way.  As a result, and after a tender process, NCSC have now opted to appoint just one Cyber Essentials Partner.

Anne W from the NCSC said, “The move to a single Cyber Essentials Partner allows us to work closely with IASME to develop the scheme and build further on the success to date.  Cyber Essentials is an important scheme within the NCSC’s extensive portfolio of tools and guidance, all of which make a significant contribution to making the UK one of the safest places in the world to live and do business online.” 

IASME’s Chief Executive, Dr Emma Philpott, MBE, said, “IASME contributed to the original writing of the scheme and has been involved in its delivery ever since.  We are welcome the prospect of continuing to work in partnership with NCSC to further develop and grow the Cyber Essentials scheme. We are particularly looking forward to working with the wider network which includes all Cyber Essentials Certification Bodies which will allow us to offer expert support and certification to organisations across the whole of the UK and Crown Dependencies.” 

IASME is delighted to welcome all the new Certification Bodies that have come on board with us during the transition period and would also like to thank all of the certification bodies who have been a part of our journey to date. Together we will provide a comprehensive, UK wide network of licensed Certification Bodies to ensure regional support is available to all those who need it.

For many organisations, cyber security can be complex and confusing.  Yet, in the current environment where cyber threats are prevalent and indiscriminate, it is crucial that all organisations are actively encouraged to implement the most important basic technical controls. Today’s new Partnership launch for this established Government backed scheme will help make fundamental cyber protection more understandable, accessible and practical.