Get Cyber Essentials Certified
Meet compliance requirements, unlock new contracts, and reduce your exposure to cyber risk with clear, expert support from a licensed certification body.
ACCREDITED & AUDITED
80%
risk reduction with 5 controls
2–4 wks
standard certification
48hr
fast-track option
200+
certified since 2008
Why Cyber Essentials reduces your risk.
Cyber Essentials is the UK’s government-backed cyber certification. It sets out five essential security controls to help protect your business from the most common cyber threats — including phishing, malware, and unauthorised access.
At Unite, we help you achieve Cyber Essentials certification in a way that’s straightforward, stress-free, and makes a meaningful impact. Certification shows your customers, partners, and regulators that you take cyber security seriously — and that you’ve got essential controls in place to prove it.
−80%
Implementing the five Cyber Essentials controls can reduce your risk of internet-borne threats by up to 80%.
UK GOVERNMENT-BACKED SCHEME · CERTIFIED BY UNITE, AN IASME BODY
What you’ll gain with certification.
Unlock tenders
Bid for government and supplier contracts that require Cyber Essentials.
Stay compliant
Keep pace as client and insurer expectations evolve.
Shorten questionnaires
Answer security questionnaires faster with trusted proof.
Reduce exposure
Cut your risk from the most common, basic cyber threats.
Prove your posture
Show customers and partners your security is real, not claimed.
Build the foundation
A clear stepping stone toward Cyber Essentials Plus or ISO 27001.
MOST BUSINESSES RECOVER THE COST THROUGH A SINGLE CONTRACT WIN.
Five essential controls that block the most common attacks.
Cyber Essentials helps you put practical, proven protections in place — reducing your risk of being caught out by phishing, malware, or basic misconfiguration. These five controls are where most breaches start — and where the right setup makes the biggest difference.
Access control
Make sure only the right people have access. Admin accounts are restricted, and permissions are tightly managed.
Secure configuration
Devices and software are set up safely — unnecessary apps and default settings are removed to close easy gaps.
Firewalls & routers
Perimeters are locked down. Your network is configured to block unauthorised access before it gets through.
Security updates
Operating systems and apps are kept up to date. Known vulnerabilities don’t get the chance to linger.
Malware protection
Antivirus and detection tools catch threats early — before they spread or cause damage.
How we help you meet them
We review your setup against each control, explain any gaps in plain English, and guide you through the evidence needed. If fixes are required, our IT and Microsoft 365 teams implement them properly — not just document them as “to-dos.”
A NAMED ASSESSOR, FROM SCOPING TO CERTIFICATE
Cyber Essentials vs Cyber Essentials Plus
Both certifications prove your organisation meets the UK’s baseline for cyber security — but the level of assurance is different.
QUESTIONNAIRE-BASED · SELF-ASSESSED
Cyber Essentials
Confirms you have five key controls in place to protect against the most common cyber threats. You complete a self-assessment; we guide you through it, check your evidence, and issue your certificate directly as an accredited body.
Best for: businesses looking to prove foundational controls, win tenders, and meet client or insurer expectations.
TIMELINE: 2–4 WEEKS · 48-HOUR FAST-TRACK AVAILABLE
INDEPENDENTLY TESTED · HIGHER ASSURANCE
Cyber Essentials Plus
Builds on the standard certification with a technical audit. We perform remote (or on-site) testing, including internal and external vulnerability scans and device sampling, to make sure your controls work in practice — not just on paper.
Best for: organisations handling sensitive data, operating in high-risk sectors, or required to demonstrate stronger assurance.
TIMELINE: 3–5 WEEKS INCLUDING AUDIT
NOTE: PLUS MUST BE COMPLETED WITHIN 3 MONTHS OF CYBER ESSENTIALS.
Not sure which you need?
We’ll recommend the right path based on your sector, contract requirements, risk profile and timelines.
Why choose Unite for Cyber Essentials.
Since 2008, we’ve helped 200+ UK businesses secure certification with clarity and confidence.
After a tight tender deadline, Unite helped us scope, fix gaps, and certify — fast, with no drama.
Unite client
Accredited and accountable
We’re a direct IASME Certification Body. No outsourcing, no delays.
Proven process
Most clients certify in 2–4 weeks. Tight deadline? We offer 48-hour fast-track.
Practical support
From scoping to remediation, our IT and Microsoft 365 teams can help fix what’s needed.
Human, helpful communication
No jargon. Just straight answers, expert guidance, and real support.
What affects cost and how long it takes.
We’ll confirm your scope before quoting, so pricing is clear from day one. Costs typically depend on:
SCOPE
Number of users and devices in scope
WORKING MODEL
Whether you work remotely, across sites, or with third parties
CLOUD
Use of cloud tools like Microsoft 365
LEVEL
Whether Cyber Essentials or Cyber Essentials Plus is required
READINESS
Current state of your setup, and any gaps to fix
FIXED-COST OPTIONS AVAILABLE FOR SIMPLER SCOPES · MOST SMES FIND CERTIFICATION PAYS FOR ITSELF THROUGH ONE CONTRACT WIN
Typical timelines:
CYBER ESSENTIALS
2–4 weeks standard, or 48-hour fast-track
CE PLUS
3–5 weeks, including audit
RENEWAL
Every 12 months, usually faster the second time around
Facing a deadline?
We can fast-track your assessment.
Stay protected year-round.
Cyber Essentials is a great baseline — but it only covers a moment in time. For ongoing protection, many clients add Managed EDR & Threat Detection. Want peace of mind after certification? Let’s talk about continuous protection.
Your questions, answered.
Ready to get Cyber Essentials certified?
We’ll make the process clear — and certification achievable. Tell us your goals or any deadlines, get guidance, a timeline, and a quote — and certify with clarity, not confusion.
Or contact us directly: 0191 466 1550 · info@theunitegroup.co.uk