How Much Does Cyber Essentials Cost? (Updated For 2025)

Planning for 2025 cybersecurity budgets? You must consider the Cyber Essentials certificate. Cyber Essentials offers a robust framework to protect your organisation from the growing threat of cyber attacks.

Cyphere offers heavily discounted CE+ rates where your organistion is looking to deliver on multiple outcomes such as security audit, validation, pen testing or compliance requirements. The Cyber Essentials costs between £500 and £3500+ for UK businesses, depending on your company size and certification level. Basic certification suits small businesses, while Cyber Essentials Plus can be suitable for both small firms and large enterprises. This guide breaks down exact Cyber Essentials costs, hidden expenses, and ROI to help you budget effectively. 

Remember, the cost of inaction can far outweigh the Cyber Essentials price. Cyber Essentials certification costs vary depending on several factors, which we’ll explore below.

Cyber Essentials Scheme: What You Need to Know

Cyber Essentials certificate is a UK government-backed scheme that sets out cyber security controls to protect organisations from common cyber threats. It shows your customers, partners, and stakeholders that you take cybersecurity seriously. It also provides a clear picture of the organisation’s cyber security level and an overview of the maturity of technical security controls.

Becoming Cyber Essentials certified starts with using a Readiness Tool to prepare for the certification. This involves following a series of questions to lead through the main parts of the Cyber Essentials requirements and taking necessary actions to prepare for the certification. There are two levels of certification:

• Cyber Essentials: This entry-level certification consists of a self-assessment questionnaire and remote technical verification by an accredited certification body. As part of the self-assessment, you must complete the Cyber Essentials questionnaire, which involves answering the Cyber Essentials questions on the questionnaire portal.
• Cyber Essentials Plus: This more comprehensive certification builds upon the basic level, including an independent third-party (sometimes on-site) audit and more extensive testing of your systems by a qualified assessor.

Read the detailed difference between the Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus certification article.

Beyond the immediate cost savings of not getting cyber attacked, Cyber Essentials certification gives you:

• Better Reputation and Trust: Certification shows you take cybersecurity seriously and gives confidence to your customers and partners.
• Competitive Advantage: Cyber Essentials is becoming a requirement for winning contracts in many industries, especially in the UK government supply chain.
• Cyber Liability Insurance: Several cyber insurance providers offer discounts on Cyber Essentials Plus certification or require basic certification as a condition of cover. IASME, through its partners, offers up to £25000 in cyber insurance coverage for small businesses.
• Cyber Hygiene: Getting certified helps you identify and fix vulnerabilities in your systems and improve cyber hygiene.
  

How Much Does Cyber Essentials Certificate Cost?

Here are the typical cost ranges for each level of Cyber Essentials certification. Cyphere operates a transparent pricing structure without hidden costs, and no support charges are levied on any certifications unless explicitly agreed. The cost breakdown across two levels of certification is:

Cyber Essentials Plus Cost

Cyber Essentials Plus certification (if CE is already in place) costs an additional £999 – £2,999, depending on the size and complexity of your organisation. Organisations that have passed Cyber Essentials can progress to Cyber Essentials Plus, which involves a more detailed audit. The higher cost is due to the increased assets and complexity of the certification process, which includes a technical audit:

• Remote (sometimes On-site) Audit: As part of Cyber Essentials Assessments, a qualified assessor will connect remotely or visit your premises to check your systems and security controls. This includes checks against five technical controls, including malware protection, access controls, vulnerability scans, and secure configuration across Operating Systems.
• Authenticated Vulnerability Scanning: Automated tools will scan your network and systems for known vulnerabilities.

💡Cost-Saving tips:

1. First-time applicants get two working days to fix issues in Cyber Essentials, 30 days in Cyber Essentials Plus certification and resubmit at no extra cost
2. Certification valid for 12 months
3. Basic certification within 3 months of Plus certification doesn’t need repeating

Suggested Read: Cyber Essentials Plus Checklist

Download our free guide: Cyber Essentials Scheme (Willow to Danzell) changes April 2026

Basic Cyber Essentials certification is the foundation step for Cyber Essentials Plus. You cannot achieve CE+ without basic CE.

The following are the Cyber Essentials Plus costs that includes both CE and CE+ certification including consultations, readiness audit, audit and certification process fees. All charges below exclude VAT:

• Micro (Upto 9 employees) – £1499
• Small (10-49) – £2299
• SME (50-249) – £2599
• Mid size (250-500) – £2899
• Large (500-2000) – £3499

Cyber Essentials Cost Planning Checklist

Let’s be practical about the financial planning needed for Cyber Essentials – it’s not just about the certification fee. Here are the factors your budget actually needs to cover:

Assessment time investment for basic Cyber Essentials certification

• 2 business days completion window from the moment your application is submitted and the account opened
• After readiness checks from Cyphere, your CE application submission does not take more than a couple of hours
• Factor in preparation time to gather documentation through our readiness audit/consultations
• Assessors aim for a 3-day turnaround on submissions and most of these are sooner within 1 business day. In case of CE+, this is dependent on the fixes and submission of the application, where audit is rescheduled to verify the fixes
• Additional time is needed if resubmission required
• A valid cyber essentials certificate can arrive in your inbox within a business day

Hidden Technical Requirements for Cyber Essentials Plus Certification

• No CVSS 7.0 or higher issues should impact your assets in scope 
• Systems must run supported software (this is non-negotiable),
• Cost of upgrading outdated systems or segregating to create sub-sets that must be descoped from CE+ scope if you can’t update
• Investment in resource time to ensure your environment is ready without going into the fail and retry cycle, we prepare our customers for the first attempt to pass
• Configurational changes, minor documentation and policy work may be needed where basic Cyber Essential pre-requisites are not in place

Assessment Process Costs

• Unlimited consultations with the Cyphere team on the web and phone
• Board member time for verification sign-off each time an application or resubmission is submitted
• Should you provide for penetration testing, then it’s best to combine the two (cyber essentials and pen testing) to make it time and cost-efficient
• Ongoing internal training for CE point of contact staff compliance may be required

Remediation Considerations

• Two-day resubmission for basic CE and 30-day window for fixing in Cyber Essentials Plus
• Cost of implementing security improvements
• Anything outside Cyber Essentials scope

Cyber Essentials Cost-Saving Strategies

While Cyber Essentials does cost, there are ways to save:

Government Schemes and Incentives

• Charity Grants: Funded charity grants are available, see more information on NCSC
• Cyber Essentials Readiness Grant: The UK government offers grants of up to £2,500 to help businesses in specific sectors implement the technical requirements for Cyber Essentials.
• Regional Funding Programmes: Check with your local enterprise partnership or growth hub for any regional funding schemes that may support cybersecurity improvements and certification.

Get a Readiness Check Before Cyber Essentials Assessment

• Conduct a Self-Assessment: Before engaging a certification body to carry out a Cyber Essentials assessment for certification, utilise the free resources and self-assessment tools available on the Cyber Essentials website to identify areas where your organisation needs to improve.
• Implement Basic Security Controls: Implement basic security controls, such as strong passwords, firewalls, and up-to-date software. This proactive approach can significantly reduce the time and cost of the formal assessment process.
• Go through questionnaire, FAQs and read up on the process and Cyber Essentials requirements 

Choose the Right Certification Body

• Shop Around for Quotes: Don’t hesitate to request quotes from multiple accredited certification bodies. Cyber Essentials pricing can vary, so comparing services and finding the best value for your money is essential.
• Consider Your Specific Needs: Some certification bodies specialise in working with specific sectors or organisations of different sizes. Choosing a provider with relevant experience can streamline the process and potentially reduce costs.

Take that First Step Towards Affordable Cybersecurity And Reduce Your Insurance Premiums

Investing in Cyber Essentials certification is a strategic decision that offers tangible returns for UK businesses. While the Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus cost may vary depending on individual circumstances, understanding the key factors influencing pricing and exploring available cost-saving strategies empowers you to make informed decisions about your cybersecurity budget.

Don’t wait for a cyber incident to force your hand. Take the first step towards affordable cybersecurity by requesting a personalised Cyber Essentials quote today. Our team of experts can guide you through the certification process, answer your questions about Cyber Essentials pricing, and help you implement the most cost-effective solutions to protect your business from the evolving threat landscape.

FAQ’s on the Cost of Cyber Essentials 

How much does it cost to get Cyber Essentials certification?

Basic Cyber Essentials typically costs between £500 and £900, while Cyber Essentials Plus certification generally starts at £1,499 plus VAT and up to £4000 based on organisation size.

Is Cyber Essentials free?

Cyber Essentials is not free; it requires a fee for assessment and certification. If you want to save on the cost of Cyber Essentials certification, Cyphere provides multiple options, provided your organisation undergoes penetration tests, security audits, or one of our offerings.

How easy is it to get Cyber Essentials certification?

Obtaining Cyber Essentials certification is relatively straightforward, but it does require implementing specific security controls and passing an assessment.

Is achieving Cyber Essentials worth it?

Cyber Essentials is worth the investment as it provides valuable protection against common cyber threats and can open up new business opportunities.

How much does a cyber security system cost?

Cybersecurity system costs vary widely depending on company size and needs, but Cyber Essentials offers a cost-effective starting point for essential protection.

Is Cyber Essentials worth having?

Cyber Essentials is worth having as it offers essential protection and can include cyber insurance for eligible organisations.

Is Cyber Essentials annual?

Cyber Essentials is an annually renewable certification that requires yearly reassessment to maintain compliance.

What does Cyber Essentials Plus include?

Cyber Essentials Plus assessment includes all the requirements of basic Cyber Essentials, plus an on-site visit and hands-on system testing from the certification body.

How much is Cyber Security Plus?

Cyber Essentials Plus typically costs £1,399 plus VAT for the certification process, not including any necessary security improvements.

How are Cyber Essentials assessments verified?

A board member from the organisation must sign a declaration that all submitted answers are accurate. Upon passing the evaluation, you will be issued a valid certificate for cyber essentials.

What is the Cyber Essentials package?

It is a government-backed scheme that helps protect organisations against some of the most common cyber attacks.