A prioritised action plan
Review the systems in scope against the five controls. Identify the gaps, the practical changes needed and who will own each action.
You receive A gap review and prioritised actions with agreed owners.
Cyber Advisor / Cyber Essentials
NCSC Assured
Service Provider.
Practical help to put your Cyber Essentials controls in place.
Advice and hands-on support for small and medium organisations. Understand the gaps, agree the priorities and make the changes, with our team in Reading, Berkshire.
The NCSC lists Dead Simple Computing under the Cyber Advisor scheme and names Daniel McClure Fisher as our qualified Cyber Advisor.
Also listed in the IASME directoryPractical security improvements, whether or not you need certification.
See the service outputsThe service, in practical terms
Clear actions.
Changes you can use.
We agree the scope, outputs and responsibilities before work starts. Your engagement can include a review, implementation support and a handover.
Hands-on implementation
Help with firewalls, secure configuration, security updates, user access and malware protection, working with your internal team or existing IT provider.
You receive The agreed implementation work and a record of changes made.
A useful handover
Explain the settings, responsibilities and routine tasks needed to maintain the controls. Review the work completed and what still needs attention.
You receive Completed work, remaining actions, owners and dependencies.
Prepare for assessment, if needed
If Cyber Essentials is your goal, we help you understand the application and the technical information it needs. Formal assessment is a separate service with its own responsibilities and decision.
Assessment options and pricesStart with the problem you need to solve.
The Cyber Advisor scheme focuses on implementing the five Cyber Essentials technical controls. We work from the systems you have, the requirement you need to meet and the resources available to make changes.
Read the NCSC buyer guidance- A tender or supplier requirementConfirm what the clause asks for and which systems it covers.
- Gaps in your existing controlsTurn known issues or an assessment finding into prioritised work.
- Limited internal capacityAgree what your team, your IT provider and DSC will each do.
Agree the work before you commit.
Tell us your organisation size, devices and cloud services, any existing IT provider and the deadline you are working towards. We will discuss a practical starting point.
Pricing depends on the work and the complexity of your systems. The NCSC does not set a standard Cyber Advisor fee. Our published rates explain the wider service and assessment options.
How the assurance is earned
The individual advisor is assessed and the organisation must meet the scheme's provider requirements.
- Individual competence
- IASME independently assesses the advisor's Cyber Essentials knowledge, implementation skills and ability to work with small and medium organisations.
- Company assurance
- The provider must meet the scheme's company requirements, including Cyber Essentials certification and quality management arrangements.
- Continued requirements
- The provider must continue to meet the scheme's standards. Use the linked independent directories to check the current assurance and its scope.
Each credential has a defined scope.
Cyber Advisor assurance covers the implementation support described here. Our Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus certification-body appointments are separate. Preparation and formal assessment have distinct responsibilities and records.
DSC is also an appointed certification body for Defence Cyber Certification Level 0. For higher requirements, explore Level 1 readiness and the assessment route.
Daniel McClure Fisher, CISSP and MCIIS, leads our security work. Our ISO 9001 quality management system and ISO 27001 information security management system are certified by a UKAS-accredited certification body.
ISO 27001 consultancy, incident response and governance and audit are separate services. Cyber Advisor assurance does not extend to every service DSC provides.
Common questions
What is an NCSC Assured Service Provider?
An organisation accepted under a specific NCSC assurance scheme. DSC is assured under the Cyber Advisor scheme, covering practical advice and support with Cyber Essentials technical controls for small and medium organisations. The assurance is specific to that service.
What is the NCSC Cyber Advisor scheme?
The scheme helps small and medium organisations find independently assessed advice and hands-on help with the five Cyber Essentials controls. Advisors are assessed on technical knowledge, implementation competence and their ability to work with smaller organisations. They must work for an Assured Service Provider.
Do we need to be working towards certification?
No. You can use the service to understand gaps and improve your controls without applying for Cyber Essentials. If certification is your goal, we agree preparation and formal assessment as distinct pieces of work. Certification depends on a successful assessment.
How is NCSC assurance different from ISO 27001 or Cyber Essentials certification?
Cyber Advisor assurance concerns the implementation advice and support being provided. Cyber Essentials is certification against five technical controls. ISO 27001 concerns an information security management system. DSC holds ISO 27001 and ISO 9001 certification from a UKAS-accredited certification body, and a separate Cyber Essentials and Plus certification-body appointment.
Does NCSC assurance mean you can help with government or regulated contracts?
Send the actual contract requirement so we can check the service and evidence needed. Cyber Advisor covers practical Cyber Essentials implementation support. The NCSC Assured Cyber Security Consultancy scheme is separate and addresses more complex requirements, including nationally critical work. Our Cyber Advisor assurance does not establish that separate appointment or a GovAssure authorisation.
How do I verify Dead Simple Computing’s NCSC assured status?
Use the NCSC organisation listing or IASME’s directory of Cyber Advisors. The NCSC listing identifies the Cyber Advisor scheme and names Daniel McClure Fisher as the qualified Cyber Advisor. Both independent directories are linked on this page.
Speak to our qualified Cyber Advisor
Tell us what you need to improve, the requirement you are working towards and who manages your IT. We will discuss the work, priorities and next step.
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5.30pm.
Reply within one working day.