How to Use a Helper for Your Cyber Essentials Self-Assessment
Updated: Sep 8
If you're completing your Cyber Essentials or Cyber Assurance self-assessment, you might need assistance. Whether it's an IT provider, a colleague, or a technical contact, the IASME assessment portal has a built-in feature to help you. This feature is called a “Helper.”
A Helper can log in alongside you (though not at the same time) and complete or update answers within your assessment. This option is useful if you're not the most technical person in your business. You can have your IT support company or a colleague complete the technical sections while you retain overall ownership and sign-off of the submission.
How to Add a Helper
Adding a Helper is straightforward. Just follow these steps:
Log in to the IASME portal. Go to portal.iasme.co.uk and enter your registered email address. You'll receive a one-time passcode by email. Copy this into the passcode box and click Login.
Open the Helpers menu. Once logged in, click the cog icon in the top right-hand corner of the screen. Then select “Helpers” from the left-hand menu.
Invite your Helper. Enter the email address of the person you'd like to assist with your assessment, then click “Invite Helper.”
Wait for them to accept. Your Helper will receive an email invitation. They need to accept it before they can access your assessment.
Your Helper logs in as themselves. Once accepted, your Helper logs in to the portal using their own email address and passcode (just like you did). They will then have access to your assessment to view and complete answers.
A Few Important Things to Know
Only one person can be in the portal at a time. If you are logged in and working on the assessment, your Helper should not log in at the same time, and vice versa. Otherwise, changes may not save correctly. Make sure one of you logs out before the other logs in.
A Helper can update answers, but they cannot submit or sign off the assessment on your behalf. Cyber Essentials requires that a senior person in your organisation (a board member, owner, or equivalent) confirms the answers are accurate before the assessment is submitted for marking.
You can add or remove a Helper at any time. Use the same “Helpers” menu, right up until your assessment is submitted.
Helpers are separate from any support you receive from us as your Certification Body. If you're on our Supported Service, we'll already be guiding you through the questions directly. A portal Helper simply gives a named colleague or IT contact hands-on access to enter those answers.
Why Use a Helper?
Using a Helper can streamline your Cyber Essentials journey. It allows you to focus on your core responsibilities while ensuring that the technical aspects of the assessment are handled by someone with the right expertise. This collaboration can lead to a more accurate and efficient completion of your assessment.
Common Questions About Helpers
Can I change my Helper after inviting them?
Yes, you can add or remove a Helper at any time until your assessment is submitted. Just go back to the “Helpers” menu to make changes.
What if my Helper doesn’t receive the invitation?
If your Helper does not receive the invitation email, ask them to check their spam or junk folder. If they still can’t find it, you can resend the invitation from the “Helpers” menu.
Can I have more than one Helper?
You can invite multiple Helpers, but remember that only one can be logged in at a time. This ensures that changes are saved correctly.
Need a Hand?
If you're unsure who in your organisation should be your Helper or if you’d like support preparing your answers before you submit, get in touch with our team! We're happy to help.
Remember, achieving Cyber Essentials certification is a significant step in enhancing your organisation's cybersecurity posture. With the right support, you can navigate the process smoothly and effectively.
For more information on Cyber Essentials, visit Get Cyber Certified.
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