The assessment itself costs £300-500. But most businesses spend £500-2,000 on preparation to make sure they actually pass.
Quick answer: The assessment itself costs £300-500. But most businesses spend £500-2,000 on preparation to make sure they actually pass.
The Two Costs
1. Assessment fee (you can't avoid this)
- Cyber Essentials (self-assessment): £300-400 + VAT
- Cyber Essentials Plus (technical verification): £1,200-2,500 + VAT
- Gap analysis: £300-500
- Fixing what's broken: £500-2,000+
- Full managed certification: £1,500-4,000
Why Preparation Costs Vary
It depends where you're starting from.
Already well-managed? You might just need a quick gap check and minor tweaks. Some of our managed clients breeze through because their IT is already configured properly.
Typical SME? Expect to fix patching gaps, tighten access controls, and sort out a few configuration issues. This is most businesses.
Legacy systems, BYOD, or multiple sites? More complexity means more work. Budget accordingly.
Is It Worth Paying for Help?
Consider what failure costs:
- Failed assessment = remediation + retest fees (£500-1,000+)
- Lost contract because you couldn't certify in time = potentially tens of thousands
- Staff time spent figuring it out = hidden cost that adds up
What We Do
We offer Cyber Essentials at every level:
- Gap analysis - know where you stand before committing
- Preparation support - we fix the gaps so you pass
- Managed certification - we handle everything
- Ongoing compliance - stay certified year after year
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*Disclaimer: Costs shown are indicative based on typical UK market rates at time of writing. Actual costs vary based on your organisation's size, complexity, and specific requirements. Contact us for a quote based on your situation.*
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- we'll give you a straight answer.
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