Cyber essentials price UK: what a 10–200 staff business should expect
If you run a UK business with 10–200 people, you’ve probably been told you need Cyber Essentials. That’s fine — it’s a straightforward, government-backed baseline. The question most finance directors and operations managers ask is practical and simple: what will it cost? This guide walks through the real drivers of price, typical spending decisions, and sensible ways to keep costs down without cutting corners.
What Cyber Essentials covers — in plain English
Cyber Essentials checks that you have a handful of basic protections in place: patching, secure configuration, access controls and boundaries that stop the ordinary cyber mischief that hits small firms. It’s not an advanced audit or penetration test; it’s about reducing the chance of common attacks that cause the most disruption to day‑to‑day business.
Why prices vary so much
There isn’t a fixed tariff set in stone. Prices move because of a few simple reasons:
- Certification route — self-assessment versus working with a consultant or assessor.
- Scale and complexity — more users, multiple offices, remote workers, cloud services and legacy kit all add time.
- Remediation work — if your estate needs updates or configuration changes, that’s extra chargeable time.
- Who does the work — an external IT consultant, an in‑house team, or a certified body handling the submission.
Typical cost components
Think of the total as several buckets, not a single line item:
- Certification fee — the charge for the formal assessment and issuing the certificate.
- Consultancy or contractor time — help with evidence, hardening systems and answering the assessor’s queries.
- Technical fixes — licensing, patching, replacing unsupported devices or adding basic network controls.
- Internal staff time — collecting evidence, training and changing processes.
- Renewal and retesting — the scheme needs renewing annually, and changes may require extra checks.
How to think about price — more impact, less fuss
Rather than hunting for the cheapest price, focus on outcomes: less downtime, fewer insurance headaches, and the credibility that matters when you bid for public contracts. A modest investment in getting it right first time often saves more in wasted consultancy hours and avoidable rework.
Options for UK businesses and what they mean for cost
1. Self‑assessment and submission
Smaller firms with tidy IT and someone confident with basic security can complete the questionnaire themselves. This keeps the bill down, but you must be honest and accurate — a failed assessment wastes time. Expect most of the cost to be internal time unless you pay a third party to review your answers.
2. Consultant‑assisted certification
If your IT estate is mixed — a couple of legacy servers, staff in different locations, cloud tools — a consultant speeds things up. They’ll gather evidence, patch where needed and usually handle the submission. That adds to cost, but reduces the risk of surprises and failed submissions.
3. Full technical remediation
Some businesses discover their systems need work: unsupported kit, missing backup practices, or administrative accounts that are too freely given. That’s when technical fees climb — but it’s also where you buy long‑term resilience. Treat remediation as capital investment rather than a one‑off bill.
Practical price expectations (and how to forecast for your business)
Exact figures depend on your situation, but a useful way to forecast is to estimate time and technical work required, then multiply by your in‑house or contractor day rates. For many UK SMEs the total outlay tends to fall into a relatively broad band: from a modest one‑off spend for neat systems and a confident admin team, up to a higher figure where external help and remediation are needed. Factor in annual renewal costs and any planned upgrades — treat the first year as the largest expense if you need fixes.
Saving money without compromising security
- Prepare: gather inventory and basic evidence before you bring in external help.
- Prioritise fixes that also reduce business risk — patching, backups and limiting admin accounts give the best return.
- Use existing tools: many cloud services already meet parts of the standard; document that rather than buying new tools.
- Ask for a scoped quote: a consultant should tell you what’s essential and what’s optional.
If you want a practical next step, a lot of businesses find it useful to get an objective review of their readiness rather than a full consulting engagement. For a straightforward description of services that help businesses prepare and get certified, consider this Cyber Essentials certification service which explains the typical path and what to expect. (See our healthcare IT support guidance.)
FAQ
How long does Cyber Essentials certification take?
It varies. For tidy systems and a prepared admin team, you can complete the self‑assessment in a few days. If you need remediation or consultant support, plan for several weeks to a couple of months. Realistic scheduling avoids rushed fixes that create more work later.
Does Cyber Essentials need a penetration test?
No. The standard is about basic controls and a self‑assessment or assisted assessment. More advanced testing is a separate activity and is worth considering if you handle sensitive data, but it’s not part of the baseline certification.
How often do I need to renew it?
Certification is renewed annually. Renewal is typically quicker if you treat it as part of routine operations — keep evidence current and schedule internal reviews to avoid last‑minute scrambles.
Will certification reduce my insurance premiums?
Some insurers view Cyber Essentials positively; it demonstrates basic risk management. It won’t automatically guarantee lower premiums, but having it in place strengthens your position when negotiating cover.
Is it worth outsourcing everything?
Outsourcing reduces risk and frees internal time, but it costs more. A blended approach — keeping governance and basic controls in‑house while outsourcing specialist tasks — often gives the best balance for mid‑sized UK businesses.
Getting Cyber Essentials is less about buying a certificate and more about buying resilience: less downtime, stronger bids for contracts and smoother insurance conversations. If you want to save time, protect margins and shore up credibility without overpaying for unnecessary extras, start with a readiness review and a clear scope for any external help. That way you buy calm, not surprises.
