Security audits should never be seen as a cost to your business, they are in fact an enabler with you give you a competitive edge over other businesses. If your business is more resilient, secure and effective than your competitors – why not advertise the fact? There are a range of security accreditations which signify your competence, ensuring you are the one who wins work.

Conversely, the lack of any security accreditations may ring alarm bells for possible buyers. One example of this is the Cyber Essentials accreditation, this is required to work with any governmental organisation or those who supply to it, be it local government or major financial institutions. If you can’t do the ‘essentials’ then your business is simply a supply-chain risk.

By achieving a Cyber Essentials Plus, you prove that your business does not pose a risk to a buyer – in fact your business is the one worth dealing with, instead of others who fail to meet the basic tests. Security audits are quality-marks which speak volumes about your competence and professionalism, having them pays incredible dividends for businesses large and small.

As your business grows there are a range of further accreditations that you may be contractually required to have, before you can even get your foot in the door. These range from the ISO 27001 standard, which is an information security standard, to the Defence Cyber Certification (DCC) for any work related to the Ministry of Defence (even within the supply chain).

How much of your competition are lacking these quality marks when it actually wins work? Rather than making security audits a chore, make them an enabler to your business helping you glide through any bidding process.

How we can help

With decades of experience delivering a range of security accreditations to highly regulated firms, we are well-placed to help your business achieve these valuable quality-marks. We have had the pleasure of working with international law firms and the world’s largest private financial institutions to deliver these standards. We make complex accreditations accessible.

Depending on the nature of your work and the industries you serve, you will have varying security requirements to achieve. For example if you are a charity which works with local government or a Lexcel accredited law firm, you will undoubtedly require the Cyber Essentials accreditation. If you are instead a defence contractor, you will likely need at least the Cyber Essentials and Defence Cyber Certification to prove your business will not become a (digital) national security risk. For healthcare it would instead be the Cyber Essentials and ISO/IEC 27001.

It varies, which is why a bespoke approach is necessary. Rather than simply box-ticking your way through accreditations, speak to our team. We can explore what choice awards demonstrate your competence, and crucially will actually have a positive return on investment for your business.