In today’s digital world, cybersecurity has become more important than ever. With the increasing number of cyber threats and attacks, businesses are taking steps to secure their information and data. One way to do this is by obtaining cybersecurity certifications such as Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus. While both certifications aim to improve a company’s cybersecurity posture, there are some key differences between the two.
difference between cyber essentials and cyber essentials plus
Cyber Essentials is a government-backed cybersecurity certification scheme that helps organizations protect themselves against common cyber threats. It focuses on the basic cybersecurity controls that all organizations should have in place to protect against cyber attacks. These controls include:
1. Secure configuration – ensuring that systems and devices are configured securely to protect against unauthorized access and cyber threats.
2. Boundary firewalls and internet gateways – ensuring that network perimeter defenses are in place to protect against external threats.
3. Access control – ensuring that access to systems and data is restricted to authorized personnel only.
4. Patch management – ensuring that software is kept up to date with the latest security patches to protect against known vulnerabilities.
5. Anti-malware protection – ensuring that systems are protected against malware and other malicious software.
To obtain Cyber Essentials certification, organizations must complete a self-assessment questionnaire that covers these controls. Once the questionnaire is submitted and reviewed, the organization will receive their Cyber Essentials certification.
On the other hand, Cyber Essentials Plus builds upon the basic cybersecurity controls of Cyber Essentials by including a more in-depth assessment of an organization’s security measures. In addition to the controls covered by Cyber Essentials, Cyber Essentials Plus includes the following additional assessments:
1. Internal vulnerability scan – scanning internal systems and devices to identify potential vulnerabilities that could be exploited by cyber attackers.
2. External vulnerability scan – scanning external systems and devices to identify potential vulnerabilities that could be exploited by external threats.
3. Manual penetration test – conducting a manual penetration test to simulate a cyber attack and identify potential security weaknesses that could be exploited.
These additional assessments provide a more comprehensive view of an organization’s cybersecurity posture and help identify any potential vulnerabilities that may not have been covered by the basic cybersecurity controls of Cyber Essentials.
Due to the more rigorous assessment process of Cyber Essentials Plus, organizations that obtain this certification demonstrate a higher level of cybersecurity maturity compared to those with Cyber Essentials certification. Cyber Essentials Plus is often recommended for organizations that handle sensitive information or have a higher risk of cyber attacks.
In summary, the main difference between Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus lies in the depth of the assessment. While Cyber Essentials focuses on basic cybersecurity controls, Cyber Essentials Plus includes additional assessments to provide a more comprehensive view of an organization’s cybersecurity posture.
Both certifications are valuable tools for organizations looking to improve their cybersecurity defenses and protect against cyber threats. By obtaining either Cyber Essentials or Cyber Essentials Plus certification, organizations can demonstrate their commitment to cybersecurity and safeguard their information and data from cyber attacks.