We have some exciting news to share. EJN Labs has officially become a Cyber Essentials Certification Body through IASME Consortium. This means we can now provide both Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus certifications directly to organisations across the UK.

For us, this is not just another credential to hang on the wall. It represents a natural evolution of what we have been doing for years: helping businesses strengthen their security posture. The difference now? We can offer a streamlined path to certification whilst leveraging our expertise as one of the leading penetration testing companies UK businesses trust.

Why Cyber Essentials Matters for Your Business

If you are running a business in the UK, Cyber Essentials is no longer a nice-to-have. It is rapidly becoming table stakes.

The scheme, backed by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), sets out five key technical controls that every organisation should have in place. These are not theoretical recommendations. They are practical measures that block approximately 80% of common cyber attacks.

Here is why businesses across the country are prioritising certification:

Government Contracts: Want to bid on UK government contracts involving handling sensitive information? Cyber Essentials is mandatory. Without it, you are simply not in the running.

Supply Chain Security: Large organisations increasingly require their suppliers to hold Cyber Essentials certification. We have seen this trend accelerate dramatically over the past two years. If you are part of anyone's supply chain, expect this question sooner rather than later.

Cyber Insurance: Insurance providers are getting stricter. Many now offer reduced premiums for Cyber Essentials certified organisations. Some will not provide cover at all without it. The scheme demonstrates you are taking security seriously, which translates to lower risk.

Customer Trust: In an era where data breaches make headlines weekly, certification provides tangible proof of your commitment to security. It reassures clients that their data is in safe hands.

Cyber Essentials vs. Cyber Essentials Plus: What is the Difference?

There are two levels of certification, and understanding which one you need is crucial.

Cyber Essentials is the foundation level. You complete a self-assessment questionnaire covering the five technical controls: firewalls, secure configuration, user access control, malware protection, and patch management. An assessor (that is where we come in) reviews your responses. If everything checks out, you receive certification. The process is straightforward and can be completed relatively quickly.

Cyber Essentials Plus takes things further. Everything from the basic level applies, but there is an additional hands-on verification stage. This involves external vulnerability scanning and cyber essentials plus pentesting conducted by qualified assessors. We actively test your systems to confirm the controls are not just documented but properly implemented and effective.

Think of it this way: Cyber Essentials is like having a security checklist. Cyber Essentials Plus is having someone actually test whether your locks work. For organisations handling sensitive data, operating in high-risk sectors, or those who simply want assurance their defences actually hold up under scrutiny, Plus is the way to go.

The EJN Labs Difference: Beyond Box-Ticking

Here is where things get interesting. There are plenty of organisations that can process your Cyber Essentials certification. But how many of them are also leading penetration testing companies with deep offensive security expertise?

We built EJN Labs from the ground up around one principle: understand how attackers think, and you can build better defences. Our team includes seasoned penetration testers UK businesses rely on for their most critical security assessments. We provide everything from network penetration testing services to specialised application penetration testing services and cloud security reviews.

This background fundamentally changes how we approach Cyber Essentials certification.

We Speak Your Language: Whether you are a technical team or business leadership, we translate complex security requirements into clear, actionable steps. No jargon overload, no condescension.

AI-Led Threat Intelligence: We leverage artificial intelligence to analyse emerging threats and provide context-aware recommendations. Our AI penetration testing capabilities mean we are constantly updating our knowledge base with the latest attack vectors and defence strategies.

Real-World Security Improvements: We do not just want to get you certified. We want to make you more secure. During the assessment process, we identify practical improvements that go beyond the minimum requirements. Think of it as a mini security review embedded within your certification journey.

Technical Depth: When questions arise about configuration specifics, vulnerability management, or network security, we can provide detailed guidance. We are not reading from a script. This is what our penetration testing services and security testing services teams do every single day.

How This Fits with Our Broader Services

Becoming a Certification Body is not a pivot for us. It is a natural extension.

Many of our clients already work with us for ISO 27001 penetration testing, PCI-DSS penetration testing, and CREST penetration testing requirements. Adding Cyber Essentials to the mix means we can provide a more complete security lifecycle.

For organisations just starting their security journey, Cyber Essentials provides an excellent foundation. Once certified, many businesses progress to more advanced assessments. Our penetration testing cyber security services, including red team penetration testing and external infrastructure penetration testing, represent the next level of security validation.

This integrated approach saves time and money. Rather than working with multiple cybersecurity penetration testing providers, you have a single trusted partner who understands your environment, your challenges, and your goals.

Who Should Get Certified?

Honestly? Almost every business operating in the UK should at least consider Cyber Essentials.

If any of these apply to you, certification should be a priority:

• You handle customer data
• You are part of a larger organisation's supply chain
• You work with or hope to work with government bodies
• You operate in regulated sectors (finance, healthcare, legal)
• You want to reduce cyber insurance costs
• Your leadership takes security seriously and wants to demonstrate commitment

Even if none of these apply right now, the trend is clear. Cyber Essentials is becoming the baseline expectation. Getting ahead of the curve puts you in a stronger position.

Getting Started

If you are ready to pursue Cyber Essentials or Cyber Essentials Plus certification, we would love to help.

As one of the top pen testing companies UK organisations trust, we bring a unique perspective to the certification process. We do not just assess compliance. We help you build genuinely stronger security practices that protect your business and your customers.

Our team of security experts is ready to guide you through every step, answer technical questions, and ensure the process is as smooth as possible. Whether you need basic Cyber Essentials or the more rigorous Plus certification with thorough security penetration testing companies provide, we have got you covered.

Get in touch with us today to start your certification journey. We can have you underway within 24 hours, and unlike many computer security service providers, we bring real offensive security expertise to the table.

Cyber Essentials is not just about ticking a box. Done properly, it is about building a security culture that protects what matters most. Let us help you get there.