In response to the growing risk of cyber-attacks, the Cyber Essentials scheme was launched by the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre in 2014 with the strategic aim of providing organisations with a basic level of protection against cybercrime.

The goal of the scheme is to improve cybersecurity awareness within small and medium sized business and assist them in guarding against cyber attack by implementing five key technical security controls that address up to 80% of common cybersecurity threats including fraud, industrial espionage, and theft of intellectual property.