How to Choose a Cyber Essentials Certification Body: A Quick Guide

The Assessor Team
Jan 5
3 min read

If you’re looking to achieve Cyber Essentials certification, knowing how to choose a Cyber Essentials certification body or how to select a Cyber Essentials certification body is crucial. The right provider ensures your certificate is valid, credible, and recognised by clients and regulators.

This guide provides step-by-step advice for organisations seeking Cyber Essentials certification.

Why Choosing the Right Certification Body Matters

Cyber Essentials demonstrates that your organisation:

Meets UK government cyber security standards
Reduces exposure to common cyber threats
Supports eligibility for public sector contracts and tenders

Not all certification bodies operate equally. Some focus on automated processing, while others provide thorough, assessor-led reviews. Selecting the right body ensures accuracy, credibility, and compliance.

Step 1: Check IASME Approval

Only IASME-approved certification bodies can issue valid Cyber Essentials certificates. Ensure your provider is approved for:

Cyber Essentials (Self-Assessment)
Cyber Essentials Plus (Technical Audit), if required

Tip: Certificates from non-approved providers are not recognised by the UK government.

Step 2: Understand Their Assessment Approach

Ask potential providers:

Will a qualified assessor manually review my submission?
Will they challenge vague, inconsistent, or risky answers?
Do they verify that scope and controls align with answers?

Providers offering assessor-led reviews reduce the risk of failed submissions or rework.

Step 3: Consider Cyber Essentials Plus Support

Even if you only need basic Cyber Essentials, choosing a provider with Plus capability avoids future delays. Cyber Essentials Plus includes:

Vulnerability scanning
Endpoint configuration checks
Security verification on all in-scope devices

Selecting a body capable of both CE and CE Plus simplifies future certification upgrades.

Step 4: Evaluate Guidance and Support

The right certification body provides:

Clear guidance on questionnaire completion
Advice on scoping and evidence requirements
Feedback on unclear or inconsistent answers

Avoid providers that accept vague responses without verification — Cyber Essentials is assurance-based, not a formality.

Step 5: Review Failure and Remediation Policies

Before choosing, clarify:

What happens if the submission is rejected?
How many resubmissions are allowed?
Is remediation guidance provided?
Are additional fees charged for corrections?

A credible provider supports remediation without punitive costs.

Step 6: Reputation and Credibility

Your certificate reflects your organisation. Consider providers who:

Are trusted by public sector clients
Use assessors with technical experience
Have a proven track record of quality and compliance

A certificate from a reputable body increases credibility and acceptance in procurement processes.

Step 7: Cost Should Not Be the Only Factor

While pricing is important, the cheapest provider often carries the highest risk:

Delays in Cyber Essentials Plus certification
Failed submissions requiring rework
Poor guidance leading to non-compliance

Prioritise assurance quality over cost.

Key Questions to Ask Providers

When deciding how to choose a Cyber Essentials certification body or how to select a Cyber Essentials certification body, ask:

Are you IASME-approved for CE and CE Plus?
Will a qualified assessor review my submission?
Will you challenge unclear or risky answers?
Can you support Cyber Essentials Plus without switching providers?
What is your remediation process if we fail?

Why Choose Get Cyber Certified

At Get Cyber Certified, we provide:

Full IASME-approved Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus certification
Expert assessor-led reviews for accurate submissions
Clear guidance on scope, controls, and evidence
Transparent remediation support for smooth certification

We make the process simple while ensuring your certification is credible and government-recognised.

Conclusion

Knowing how to choose a Cyber Essentials certification body or how to select a Cyber Essentials certification body ensures your organisation achieves credible, valid, and recognised certification. Focus on:

IASME approval
Assessor-led review process
Cyber Essentials Plus capability
Guidance and remediation support
Reputation and credibility

For expert, reliable Cyber Essentials certification, contact Get Cyber Certified today.