Cyber Essentials is a government-backed, industry-supported scheme that helps businesses protect themselves against the most common cyber threats. The scheme provides a clear statement of the basic controls all organizations should implement to reduce the risk from cyber threats. In this blog post, we’ll explore the reasons why businesses should consider getting the Cyber Essentials accreditation, as well as a little bit on why healthcare professionals and schools, who deal with sensitive information, should take cyber security seriously. (we’ve picked healthcare professionals and schools because we 1. have a lot of experience with both sectors and 2. they probably require the the strictest data security due to the nature of the information they hold)

Why Businesses Should Consider Getting the Cyber Essentials Accreditation

1. Protects against cyber threats: Cyber Essentials provides a set of technical controls that businesses can implement to reduce the risk from cyber threats. This includes measures to secure devices, software, and networks, as well as guidance on safe internet usage. By following the guidelines set out in Cyber Essentials, businesses can significantly reduce the risk of cyber attacks. Granted this does sometimes reduce the flexibility of where you and your team can access their data and can be seen as restrictive in a time of increased connectivity, but often it’s a worthwhile trade off for compliance and security.
2. Demonstrates commitment to cyber security: By getting the Cyber Essentials accreditation, businesses can show that they take cyber security seriously. This can help to instill confidence in customers and clients, as well as demonstrate to regulators and other stakeholders that the business is committed to protecting sensitive information.
3. Helps to meet legal and regulatory requirements: In some industries, Cyber Essentials accreditation is a legal requirement. For example, the UK government requires that suppliers bidding for certain contracts have the accreditation. By getting Cyber Essentials, businesses can ensure they are compliant with these requirements and avoid any potential legal penalties.
4. Improves overall security posture: Cyber Essentials provides a baseline for cyber security that all businesses can adopt. By implementing the controls outlined in the scheme, businesses can improve their overall security posture and reduce the risk from cyber threats.
5. Cost-effective: Implementing the controls required for Cyber Essentials accreditation is relatively inexpensive compared to other cyber security solutions. This makes it an accessible and cost-effective way for businesses of all sizes to improve their cyber security.

Why Healthcare Professionals and Schools Should Take Cyber Security Seriously

Healthcare professionals and schools both deal with sensitive information on a daily basis. This information could include personal data, such as names, addresses, and medical histories, as well as sensitive information about students, such as grades and disciplinary records. As a result, it is essential that both healthcare professionals and schools take cyber security seriously to ensure this information is protected.

1. Protects sensitive information: By implementing strong cyber security measures, healthcare professionals and schools can reduce the risk of cyber attacks and ensure sensitive information is protected. This is particularly important in the healthcare sector, where a breach of patient data could have serious consequences for individuals and their families.
2. Maintains public trust: Healthcare professionals and schools both rely on the public’s trust to carry out their work effectively. By demonstrating a commitment to cyber security, they can maintain this trust and ensure that sensitive information is protected.
3. Meets legal and regulatory requirements: In many countries, there are laws and regulations in place that require healthcare professionals and schools to protect sensitive information. By implementing strong cyber security measures, they can ensure they are compliant with these requirements and avoid any potential legal penalties.
4. Improves overall security posture: By adopting the controls outlined in Cyber Essentials, healthcare professionals and schools can improve their overall security posture and reduce the risk from cyber threats. This includes measures to secure devices, software, and networks, as well as guidance on safe internet usage.
5. Cost-effective: Implementing the controls required for Cyber Essentials accreditation is relatively inexpensive compared to other cyber security solutions. This makes it an accessible and cost-effective way for healthcare professionals and schools to improve their cyber security.