Amshire explains changes coming to Cyber Essentials in January 2023

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) will update the criteria needed for businesses to meet Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus certifications from the end of January 2023.

Changes are expected to be among the most significant updates to the scheme since it launched in 2014 to give organisations the chance to highlight the steps they have taken towards protecting customer data from online threats. Among the expected changes is the expansion of the types of businesses that will be required to meet the standard.

Not got Cyber Essentials yet? Stockport based IT support specialists, Amshire explain the benefits.

You might think the Cyber Essentials certifications are just a ‘nice to have’, but in reality, this is becoming a standard that most want to see from businesses they’re going to be working with. It is already mandatory for public tenders and increasingly so for private.

Here’s a quick overview of how Cyber Essentials can benefit you and your company:

• Reduce risk of being breached by 80%
• Prove to Customers and Stakeholders that you are secure
• Receive free cyber insurance
• Bid for Government tenders
• Avoid hefty regulatory fines
• Gain an edge over competitors
• Improve supplier relationships

When changes to Cyber Essentials come into effect, businesses will need to be reassessed to ensure they continue to meet the requirements. Your IT provider can help complete your guided assessment, and should work with approved assessors to make sure you can pass first time. Amshire have recently strengthened our partnership with an approved UK certification body.