Cyber Essentials certification and beyond
Reduce the risk of cyber attack through our holistic approach to information security, simplifying and guiding you through Cyber Essentials or Cyber Essentials Plus. Beyond certification, we safeguard against evolving cyber threats to ensure security governance, risk and compliance (GRC).
What you get
Getting certified is just the start. LeftBrain makes Cyber Essentials practical, useful and scalable. We combine technical know-how with structured leadership so your business stays protected, credible and ready for new opportunities.
Protection that holds up
Cyber Essentials certification helps you defend against everyday threats, reduce risk and strengthen your security foundations. It keeps your operations safer and your team more resilient without adding complexity.
Certified guidance, built in
Security is too important to wing. As an NCSC Assured Service Provider, LeftBrain delivers Cyber Essentials with qualified, chartered leadership. You get expert support and confidence at every step.
Credibility that opens doors
Cyber Essentials certification shows you can be trusted in a supply chain. It helps you meet procurement standards, unlock deals faster and position your business as a credible, secure partner.
Why Cyber Essentials matters
Cyber Essentials is the UK’s baseline for good security hygiene. It helps you protect your data, reassure your clients and defend against the most common cyber threats. Backed by the government and recommended by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), it’s a strong first step toward building a more secure business.
92% more resilient
Fewer insurance claims are made by organisations with the Cyber Essentials controls in place.
89% more trusted
Organisations would recommend certifying to other organisations like theirs.
69% more competitive
Those with Cyber Essentials believe that it has increased their market competitiveness.
88% more informed
Businesses believe Cyber Essentials has improved their understanding of cyber security risks.
Source: NCSC
How we work
Cyber Essentials certification is more than just a form to fill out. It’s a standard to meet, and we guide you through it with structure and clarity. Our process is sprint-based and fully supported, so your team stays focused and your certification stays on track.
Sprint 1
Assess and align
We start by reviewing your current setup, clarifying the Cyber Essentials requirements and mapping out a clear plan to get you certified with confidence.
Sprint 2
Fix and fortify
We guide you through closing any gaps, from tightening configurations and updating policies to managing admin access and device compliance.
Sprint 3
Certify and support
Once you’re ready, we manage the assessment and submission. After certification, we check in at six months to help you stay prepared for renewal.
What our clients say
“The work LeftBrain has done for our Cyber Essentials certification in such a short space of time is critical and impressive. They are super proactive and reliable and as a fully digital company we feel we are standing on very solid and secure foundations.”
“We feel very lucky to be working with LeftBrain. Our Information Security Strategist has gone above and beyond: he’s clearly interested, invested and understands our business. We’ve worked very closely with various members of the team: the engineers are incredibly good at their jobs, and are also really lovely!”
“We love LeftBrain! Our internal tech has never run better since they took over. They have the answer for every techie question we ever have. Their response time is super fast and to top it all, they are all really lovely people.”
“Working with LeftBrain keeps our network and data secure and saves us money in the long run, helping us to best serve and protect the intellectual property and trade secrets of our clients.”
From our blog
What we learned helping clients through the latest Cyber Essentials audits
Explore key lessons from recent Cyber Essentials audits with creative and remote-first teams. Learn how to reduce risk, improve visibility, and build strong security foundations without complexity.
Read story
Security playbook for startup & scaleup CTOs
Skip the tools. Start with structure. This guide shows startups and scaleups how to build a solid information security foundation that saves time, reduces risk, and supports long-term growth.
Read story
How hiring a Scrum Master has improved our agile client delivery
Find out why LeftBrain hired a Scrum Master to embed agile practices, improve team delivery, and better align with fast-moving tech clients. Agile isn’t a buzzword – it’s how we deliver.
Read story
FAQs
Without Cyber Essentials, your business is more vulnerable to common cyber attacks like phishing, malware and unauthorised access. You may also lose out on contracts where certification is required, and clients may question your security posture. Certification helps reduce risk, improve credibility and show that you take data protection seriously.
You are not legally required to have it, but if you want to grow and win more clients, certification is a smart move. It shows you are serious about security and gives confidence to clients, partners and procurement teams, especially in regulated or enterprise-facing sectors.
Cyber Essentials is a self-assessed certification that confirms you meet the UK’s baseline standards for cyber security. Cyber Essentials Plus covers the same controls, but with an independent technical audit to verify them. If you want stronger assurance or need to meet higher procurement standards, CE Plus is the better choice. We can help with both.
We guide you through three clear steps. First, we assess your current environment and align on what needs fixing. Then we help close any gaps, from policy updates to device compliance. Finally, we manage the submission and check in after six months to keep you ready for renewal.
Every business is different, so timelines can vary depending on your current setup and priorities. With strong engagement from your side, we can often complete the process within just 4-8 weeks. Our sprint-based approach helps maintain momentum and keeps your team focused throughout.
The cost depends on the level of support you need. We offer everything from full white-glove delivery to structured advisory support. Whether you’re looking for guidance or hands-on execution, we’ll build a pricing package that fits your team, timelines and goals. Get in touch for a tailored quote.
Get straightforward support and become Cyber Essentials certified
Show your commitment to security, meet client expectations, and stay protected without the red tape.
