Cyber security for UK SMEs that can’t afford a breach

Cyber Essentials is a UK government-backed certification that demonstrates your business has controls against the most common cyber threats. It is mandatory for businesses bidding on government contracts involving sensitive data. Even outside government work, it signals to clients and insurers that your security posture meets a recognised baseline. Techfident guides businesses through Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus.

Protection is layered. EDR software monitors all devices in real time, identifying and isolating threats before they spread. Email filtering and DNS protection block malicious links at the network level. Firewall rules prevent unauthorised connections. Staff awareness guidance reduces the likelihood of human error — still the most common entry point for ransomware. Techfident configures and monitors all of these layers, not just deploys them.

Techfident provides technical GDPR alignment — securing systems that handle personal data, documenting data flows, configuring access controls and ensuring breach detection and notification processes are in place. We are not a legal practice and do not provide legal GDPR advice, but we work alongside your legal or compliance advisors to implement the technical measures required.

A Techfident security audit reviews your full environment: all devices, user accounts, network configuration, firewall rules, patch levels, password policies, email security, remote access methods and cloud service configurations. You receive a prioritised risk report — critical, high, medium and low — with a clear remediation roadmap you can act on immediately.

The majority of cyber security work is delivered remotely and is available to businesses anywhere in the UK. On-site work — such as network audits, firewall installation or hardware deployments — is available nationwide, with Hertfordshire, Essex and London covered as standard from the Bishops Stortford base.

Cyber security costs vary significantly by scope. Cyber Essentials certification starts from around £300 for self-assessment plus a modest annual renewal. External vulnerability scanning and penetration testing are priced per engagement based on scope. Ongoing endpoint protection and managed security services are typically priced per device per month. Techfident provides a clear cost breakdown before any engagement begins — contact us for a tailored quote.

Cyber Essentials is a self-assessment certification where your organisation answers a questionnaire and an assessor reviews your responses remotely. Cyber Essentials Plus goes further — a qualified assessor conducts independent technical testing of your systems to verify the controls are actually in place, not just documented. Cyber Essentials Plus carries more weight with enterprise clients and government procurement. Techfident can guide you through both routes and help you decide which is right for your situation.

For businesses with basic controls already in place, Cyber Essentials certification typically takes 2 to 4 weeks from initial assessment to certificate. Businesses that need remediation work first — patching, firewall configuration, access control changes — should allow 4 to 8 weeks. Techfident manages the full process and will give you a realistic timeline after an initial conversation about your current setup.