Recent UK government updates, public sector procurement rules, and supply-chain security expectations mean that organisations across both the public and private sectors are increasingly required to hold Cyber Essentials certification.
For some sectors, Cyber Essentials is now mandatory. For others, it is rapidly becoming a commercial and insurance expectation.
If you’ve been delaying certification, now is the time to act.
Cyber Essentials is not yet a legal requirement for all businesses, but it is mandatory for many organisations that:
Supply services to the UK Government or public sector
Handle public sector or citizen data
Work in regulated environments
Supply services to banks or large enterprises
Below, we explain who now requires Cyber Essentials, and why it matters.
If your organisation supplies services to the UK Government, Cyber Essentials is increasingly compulsory.
Many public sector procurement frameworks — including G-Cloud 15 — now require Cyber Essentials as a minimum entry requirement, with some service lots also requiring Cyber Essentials Plus.
This applies to:
Cloud service providers
Software and SaaS vendors
IT and managed service providers
Why this matters:
Without Cyber Essentials certification, organisations may be unable to bid for government contracts or renew existing public sector agreements.
From 1 October 2025, law firms delivering Criminal Legal Aid services must hold a valid Cyber Essentials certificate.
This requirement applies at both:
Contract award
Contract renewal
Why this matters:
For criminal legal aid providers, Cyber Essentials is now a contractual requirement, not a recommendation.
Major banks, financial institutions, and large enterprises are now requiring Cyber Essentials across their supply chains.
Even where certification is not legally required, it is increasingly demanded as part of:
Supplier onboarding
Procurement security assessments
Contract renewals
Why this matters:
Cyber Essentials demonstrates baseline cyber resilience and can provide a competitive advantage during procurement and supplier due diligence.
If your organisation processes government or citizen data, such as:
Payroll services
Benefits administration
Outsourced public services
…you may be required to maintain Cyber Essentials certification annually.
Why this matters:
Cyber Essentials helps organisations demonstrate compliance with government and NCSC cyber security expectations, often written directly into contracts.
Even where Cyber Essentials is not mandatory, it is strongly recommended for organisations that:
Use cloud-based systems
Support remote or hybrid working
Allow BYOD (Bring Your Own Device)
Process personal or commercially sensitive data
Certification demonstrates proactive cyber risk management, reduces exposure to common cyber attacks, and may help reduce cyber insurance premiums.
Cyber Essentials is not a tick-box exercise. It provides a government-backed baseline for protecting your organisation and proving you have taken reasonable steps to manage cyber risk.
As requirements tighten, organisations without Cyber Essentials may face:
Loss of public sector contract eligibility
Higher cyber insurance premiums
Increased exposure to ransomware and phishing attacks
If you need to meet procurement requirements, protect your organisation, or strengthen your cyber resilience, CTS can help you achieve Cyber Essentials quickly and efficiently.
✔️ Aligned with UK Government & NCSC guidance
✔️ Suitable for SMEs and larger organisations
✔️ Clear, supported path to certification
Protect your business. Prove compliance. Reduce cyber risk — before it becomes mandatory for you.