Small firms can now get Cyber Essentials certification for as little as £80

Small businesses in Birmingham can now get the government's Cyber Essentials certification for as little as £80, after a new 75% discount was announced for micro, small and medium-sized firms.

The offer, unveiled at the National Cyber Security Centre's Annual Review, is designed to help smaller firms put basic protections in place against the most common online attacks, which the government estimates can cost a UK organisation £195,000 on average when a significant one hits.

What is on offer

Cyber Essentials is the government-backed scheme that checks a business has the essential defences in place, such as firewalls, secure settings, up-to-date software, access controls and malware protection.

Under the new discount, eligible micro, small and medium-sized businesses could pay as little as £80, and no more than £125 (plus VAT), to be certified.

Some firms will not have to pay at all. More than 230 businesses have signed the government's Cyber Resilience Pledge, and they will be able to refer groups of smaller firms in their supply chains to take the certification free of charge. Some of those businesses, especially those with little in-house expertise, will also get a free cyber security adviser to guide them through the process.

"Securing your digital systems must be a top priority"

Cyber Security Minister Baroness Liz Lloyd said: "Small and medium-sized businesses employ millions of people across our nation, and should not be left vulnerable in the age of rising cyber threats."

She added: "It doesn't matter whether you're sitting at the head of the table in the boardroom, or working from the kitchen counter at home - if you run a business, no matter the size, securing your digital systems must be a top priority and we're equipping businesses for the evolving digital future."

Safer software too

Alongside the discount, 14 more organisations have joined the government's Software Security Ambassadors scheme, including Thales, Capgemini, Fortinet, QinetiQ, Investec and the training provider SANS. They will champion the Software Security Code of Practice across their supply chains, encouraging developers to build products that are secure from the start.

The measures build on the cyber package in last week's Budget, which included £70 million for a new national centre within the NCSC to track vulnerabilities across critical infrastructure, and £60 million for a national "Cyber Shield" using AI to strengthen the UK's defences.

What it means for Birmingham firms

Birmingham has tens of thousands of small businesses, from Jewellery Quarter workshops to Digbeth creative studios and suburban high street shops. Many hold customer data or take payments online but have no dedicated IT team.

Cyber Essentials certification can also open doors: it is often required to bid for government contracts and is increasingly asked for by larger customers checking their suppliers.

Business owners can find out more, and find a certification body, through the National Cyber Security Centre's Cyber Essentials pages.