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22 May 2026  ·  Security

Three reasons your small business needs Cyber Essentials

Cyber attacks are not just a big business problem. Small businesses are targeted every day. Here is what you can do about it, and what it costs.

43%
of UK businesses hit by a cyber attack in the last year
1 in 110
UK businesses hold Cyber Essentials, out of 5.5 million
£3,550
average cost of the most disruptive breach for a small business

Automated tools scan millions of businesses simultaneously, looking for the easiest way in. Small businesses are a prime target precisely because they often have weaker defences.

Cyber Essentials is a UK government-backed certification that fixes that. It covers five practical security controls that block the vast majority of common attacks.

BlueCloud can get you certified We hold Cyber Essentials Plus ourselves, so we know exactly what is required. We guide small businesses through the whole process across two short remote calls. No jargon. No disruption. Just certified. For businesses with one to five users, our total fee including certification is £420 + VAT.

Three reasons to get certified

Reason 01

It stops most attacks before they start

Unpatched software. Weak passwords. Misconfigured devices. That is how most breaches happen. Cyber Essentials forces you to address all of it. Simple controls, properly applied, make you a much harder target.

Reason 02

It wins you more business

Government contracts now require it. Corporate buyers increasingly ask for it. Having Cyber Essentials removes a barrier before it is even raised. It tells clients you take their data seriously, and you have had that independently verified.

Reason 03

Your competitors probably do not have it

Most UK small businesses still are not certified. That is your opportunity. When two equally capable suppliers are being compared, the certified one wins trust. It signals that you run a proper operation.

Bonus

Free cyber liability insurance included. If your business turns over less than £20 million, Cyber Essentials comes with up to £25,000 of cyber liability insurance. Most businesses do not know that.

What does it cost?

For a business with one to five users, the total investment looks like this:

Item Fee
IASME certification (up to 9 users) £320 + VAT
BlueCloud support fee £100 + VAT
Total £420 + VAT

We handle the whole process across two short remote calls. No jargon. No disruption. Just done.

Ready to get certified?

We will handle everything. Get in touch and we will walk you through it.

Get in touch