Cyber Essentials Certification for Charities

Protect your charity’s data, reputation, and future with a government-backed cyber essentials certification.

Charities Are Increasingly Targeted by Cyber Criminals

Charities and non-profit organisations are often seen as easy targets for cyber attacks. With limited IT resources and access to valuable data, they face rising risks from threats like phishing, malware, and ransomware. Many charities operate with small teams, rely heavily on volunteers, and use outdated systems, all of which can leave them vulnerable to breaches.

A single breach can lead to:

  • Loss of trust and funding

  • Service disruption

  • Regulatory penalties for not meeting cyber essentials requirements (such as those outlined by UK GDPR)

  • Long-term reputation damage

Despite the risks, many organisations don’t know where to start.

That’s where we come in.

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The Solution - Cyber Essentials Certification

There are two levels of Cyber Essentials Certification:

  • Cyber Essentials (Basic) – a

    self-assessment to confirm key protections are in place

  • Cyber Essentials Plus – includes hands-on technical testing and external validation for added assurance

The Cyber Essentials list focuses on five core areas:

  1. Firewalls and internet gateways

  2. Secure configuration

  3. User access control

  4. Malware protection

  5. Patch management

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Cyber Essentials is a UK government-backed scheme that helps you put essential cyber security measures in place to defend against common threats. It’s a recognised standard that’s simple, affordable, and perfectly suited for charities and non-profits.

We guide you through how to apply for Cyber Essentials and help you meet the full Cyber Essentials requirements, including everything in the official Cyber Essentials list of security controls.

Get Cyber Essentials Certified

Why Should We Get

Cyber Essentials Certified?

  • Ensure your organisation is protected against around 80% of the most common cyber threats.

  • Reassure your stakeholders that your organisation prioritises data security.

  • Publicly demonstrate your charity takes cyber security seriously—essential when applying for funding, working with partners, or handling sensitive data.

  • Some government contracts and public sector grants require Cyber Essentials certification to be eligible.

  • Support a culture of cyber awareness among staff and volunteers.

  • Avoid the high costs of data breaches, including fines, operational disruption, and reputation damage.

  • Start with Cyber Essentials and progress to Cyber Essentials Plus or advanced standards like ISO 27001 and the Cyber Assessment Framework.

  • Build a more secure and sustainable digital foundation, ensuring your charity can continue delivering vital services without interruption.

Got a tech headache?

We’re always happy to chat, no jargon, no pressure. Get friendly advice, from a team that care.