Before your business can successfully complete a Cyber Essentials audit, it's important to know whether your network is set up to meet the scheme's basic cybersecurity requirements. Simply put, you need to confirm that your IT environment has the right controls in place to protect against common cyber threats such as malware, unauthorised access, and data breaches.
Getting this right matters because failing a Cyber Essentials audit can leave your organisation exposed to cyber risks that cause costly downtime, loss of sensitive data, and damage to your reputation. For many UK SMEs, especially those handling customer data or working with government contracts, Cyber Essentials is not just a nice-to-have but a practical step towards compliance with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. It also reassures customers and partners that you take cybersecurity seriously.
How a typical SME might approach this
Consider a UK-based company with around 50 staff that recently decided to pursue Cyber Essentials certification to meet supplier requirements. Their IT provider conducted an initial review and found that while they had basic antivirus software, their network lacked multi-factor authentication (MFA) for remote access and did not have formal patch management processes. The provider helped the business implement MFA, set up automated updates for operating systems and applications, and improved firewall configurations. This preparation not only made the audit smoother but also reduced the risk of ransomware and unauthorised access.
Checklist: How to tell if your network is ready for Cyber Essentials
- Ask your IT provider: Do we have a properly configured firewall that blocks unauthorised inbound and outbound traffic?
- Check antivirus and anti-malware: Is up-to-date software installed on all devices, and are scans running regularly?
- Review user access controls: Are user accounts managed with strong passwords and multi-factor authentication, especially for remote or administrative access?
- Patch management: Are operating systems and applications regularly updated with security patches, ideally through automated processes?
- Secure configuration: Are default passwords changed, unnecessary services disabled, and network devices configured according to best practices?
- Backup procedures: Are critical data and system backups performed regularly, stored securely offsite, and tested for restoration?
- Logging and monitoring: Are security events logged and reviewed to detect unusual activity?
- Supplier and device management: Do you have records of all connected devices and third-party services, with security assessments where relevant?
Next steps for your business
Preparing for a Cyber Essentials audit involves more than ticking boxes; it's about building a resilient IT environment that supports your business goals and compliance needs. If you're unsure whether your current network setup meets these requirements, it's wise to engage a trusted managed IT provider or IT advisor who understands the Cyber Essentials framework and can guide you through practical improvements. This approach helps ensure your business is not only audit-ready but better protected against everyday cyber threats.