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Citation Cyber / Cyber Essentials

Trusted by thousands of businesses

across the UK

What is Cyber Essentials?

Cyber Essentials is a government-backed certification scheme introduced in 2014. The certification is for all organisations of any size and sector, that demonstrates appropriate security and defences in line with the current guidance. It’s the minimum security standard the UK government recommend.

Win more contracts

Cyber Essentials is mandatory for many UK government and MOD contracts.

Reduce your cyber risk

Show clients and insurers you’re serious about cyber security.

Lower insurance premiums

Certified businesses may qualify for better rates from leading insurers.

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Make sure your business is
protected and achieve your goals…

Secure configuration

Set up your systems to keep threats out from the start.

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User access control

Limit who can access your data and how much they can do.

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Firewalls & malware protection

Create a strong barrier for online threats. Spot and stop malicious software before it causes harm.

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Security update management

Patch and protect your devices against known vulnerabilities.

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Get the fundamentals in place with the self-assessment questionnaire

Step-by-step guidance

No onboarding fees or admin costs

98% customer success rate

1-1 support available

Start your certification from just £320

Need a bit of help?

Getting Cyber Essentials certified isn’t always straightforward especially if it’s your first time. That’s why we offer expert support. Two options to suit your needs:

Core – 1 hour support

Perfect for most SMEs. We’ll review your self-assessment before submission, focus on any sticky areas, and make sure you’re on the right track. Ideal if you’re doing the basics yourself but want peace of mind before hitting submit.

Premium – 3.5 hour support

Need a bit more time or a helping hand from start to finish? This option is perfect if you’re short on time, working to a tight deadline, or dealing with more complex setups like councils or universities. We’ll guide you through the steps.

Your four steps to certification with us

Step one: You’ll receive the self-assessment questionnaire from the awarding body (that’s us!)

Step two: Complete the questionnaire via the user hub, Atlas

Step three: Our team will work with you to help get your assessment ready for review

Step four: Once a ‘pass’ is awarded, you’ll receive your certificate

And if you get stuck, our experts step in to help.

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Why thousands choose Citation Cyber

  • 1-to-1 guidance – no jargon, no faff 
  • Transparent pricing, no surprise fees 
  • Track everything easily in our Atlas platform 
  • 12 months of UK government-backed certification
Buy Cyber Essentials now

Cyber Essentials Plus

Ready to take your certification to the next level? Cyber Essentials Plus certification adds:

  • Internal security checks 
  • External vulnerability scan 
  • Independent audit and verification
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Why our customers love us

See what people say about working with Citation Cyber

  • Logo featuring a large blue "Q" with a stylised tail, above the word "QUORUM" in bold, dark blue letters.

    An extremely friendly, knowledgeable, and experienced team from start to finish.

    Amanda Bailey
  • Red background with the acronym "MLA" in large white letters and the full phrase "MEDICAL LEGAL APPOINTMENTS" in smaller white text.

    Citation Cyber have been outstanding throughout what has been a challenging test this year, Lee (Cyber Essentials Assessor) has been brilliant from start to finish, he’s understood the challenges and advised and accommodated every question. BIG thanks from MLA.

    Brian Wheatley
  • QHS logo featuring stylized white letters "QHS" on a dark blue background.

    We were really appreciative of Citation Cyber’s Responsiveness to us as our penetration testing needed to be completed very quickly and were able to accommodate this. Communication from the team was really good and the report was comprehensive and easy to follow for us and our developers.

    Clare Baldwin
  • Silhouette of a soldier with a rifle beside a large red poppy, featuring the text "RBLI" in bold white letters.

    A fantastic service done by Citation again for our Cyber Essentials Plus award. The engineers within the company work to a very high standard and work well with the customer to explain along the way anything that is raised. They are on-hand to answer any questions, and explain the findings and resolution to aid the certification. A top-quality company that is highly recommended!

    Jason Cass

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Cyber Essentials?

It’s a UK government-backed certification that shows you’ve got the basics of cyber security in place. It helps protect your business from the most common cyber threats and proves to your clients, partners, and insurers that you take security seriously.

Do I need Cyber Essentials?

If you want to win government contracts, handle sensitive data, or know your business is protected then yes. It’s especially useful if you work with supply chains, finance, healthcare, or public sector clients.

What does the certification involve?

You’ll complete a self-assessment questionnaire based around five key security controls – things like how you manage passwords, update software, and use firewalls. We review your answers, help close any gaps, and issue your certificate.

What’s the difference between Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus?

Cyber Essentials is a self-assessment. Cyber Essentials Plus includes a hands-on technical audit – an auditor tests your systems to make sure everything’s watertight. It’s the next level up for businesses with higher risks or more complex needs.