NCSC Opts For New Approach to Deliver Cyber Essentials

• The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) will hand over the monitoring of the Cyber Essentials scheme to an existing certified organization from April 1, 2020.
• This move is expected to streamline the operation and simplify the user experience.

What is the Cyber Essentials scheme?

Cyber Essentials is a U.K. Government-backed scheme that helps organizations stay safe from cyber attacks. It provides multiple certifications for organizations.

• It was launched in 2004 and has helped more than 30,000 businesses in the U.K. protect themselves from common cyber threats.
• The Cyber Essentials scheme has been delivered by various Accreditation Bodies since its launch.
• The NCSC recently announced its plans of making various changes to the scheme including the introduction of an expiry date on the certificates and the minimum criteria for Certification Bodies and Cyber Essentials assessors.

The new approach

IASME Consortium Ltd has now been appointed as the new Cyber Essentials partner for a five-year period.

• This new approach is to ensure a streamlined delivery of the scheme and to improve consistency.
• The NCSC and IASME Consortium Ltd are working on the transition plan. This will involve IASME taking over the Cyber Essentials delivery from April 2020.
• IASME will be reaching out to the existing Cyber Essentials Certification Bodies to provide updates.

“We are extremely excited about the prospect of working in partnership with the NCSC to develop and grow the Cyber Essentials scheme. We have seen such a positive effect already over the last 5 years where Cyber Essentials has increased the basic levels of security across all sectors,” said Dr Emma Philpott, IASME Chief Executive.

Other details

Until IASME takes over, the Cyber Essentials scheme will continue as usual.

• Organizations are encouraged to apply for certification or recertification through the existing Accreditation Bodies until the end of March 2020.
• The NCSC has promised to provide updates about the progress of the project through blogs and FAQs.
• Joint events for the Cyber Essentials Certification Bodies have been planned so they can meet the NCSC and IASME.