UK · NCSC FIVE CONTROLS · IASME-READY SUBMISSIONS
Cyber Essentials / Plus Certification Readiness Services UK
Looking to achieve Cyber Essentials certification in the UK without delays, rejected submissions, or wasted budget? BrainTrips is a specialist Cyber Essentials readiness and implementation partner, providing the technical remediation and preparation businesses need to pass their assessment for the first time.
We are not an IASME-accredited Certification Body, we are the technical partner that gets you ready for one. We audit your environment, close the gaps against the NCSC’s five technical controls, and hand you a system fully prepared for submission to your chosen Certification Body or Assessor.
UK · NCSC FIVE CONTROLS · IASME-READY SUBMISSIONS
Cyber Essentials / Plus Certification Readiness Services UK
Looking to achieve Cyber Essentials certification in the UK without delays, rejected submissions, or wasted budget? BrainTrips is a specialist Cyber Essentials readiness and implementation partner, providing the technical remediation and preparation businesses need to pass their assessment for the first time.
We are not an IASME-accredited Certification Body, we are the technical partner that gets you ready for one. We audit your environment, close the gaps against the NCSC’s five technical controls, and hand you a system fully prepared for submission to your chosen Certification Body or Assessor.
Our Cyber Essentials Certification Services
BrainTrips provides a complete readiness and remediation service built around the NCSC’s five core technical controls, the foundation of every Cyber Essentials assessment. We audit your current environment against the NCSC Cyber Essentials question set, identifying risks, misconfigurations, and compliance gaps before you submit.
Gap Remediation Across the 5 NCSC Controls
Our engineers resolve issues across your infrastructure to bring you into full alignment with NCSC requirements, control by control:
CONTROL 01 / 05
Firewalls
Correctly configuring boundary and host-based firewalls to control inbound and outbound traffic.
ALSO INCLUDED IN EVERY ENGAGEMENT
Cloud service configuration
Your cloud environment secured in line with NCSC guidance on cloud service scoping and configuration.
Email and SaaS hardening
Email systems and business-critical SaaS tools brought inside your certification scope, correctly configured.
Evidence and self-assessment
Evidence, scoping documentation, and self-assessment responses prepared to speed up Certification Body approval.
CONTROL 02 / 05
Secure Configuration
Hardening device and software builds, removal of unnecessary accounts, services, and default settings.
ALSO INCLUDED IN EVERY ENGAGEMENT
Cloud service configuration
Your cloud environment secured in line with NCSC guidance on cloud service scoping and configuration.
Email and SaaS hardening
Email systems and business-critical SaaS tools brought inside your certification scope, correctly configured.
Evidence and self-assessment
Evidence, scoping documentation, and self-assessment responses prepared to speed up Certification Body approval.
CONTROL 03 / 05
User Access Control
Ensuring least-privilege access, administrative account controls, and multi-factor authentication across critical systems.
ALSO INCLUDED IN EVERY ENGAGEMENT
Cloud service configuration
Your cloud environment secured in line with NCSC guidance on cloud service scoping and configuration.
Email and SaaS hardening
Email systems and business-critical SaaS tools brought inside your certification scope, correctly configured.
Evidence and self-assessment
Evidence, scoping documentation, and self-assessment responses prepared to speed up Certification Body approval.
CONTROL 04 / 05
Malware Protection
Deployment and management of anti-malware or application allow-listing/sandboxing controls.
ALSO INCLUDED IN EVERY ENGAGEMENT
Cloud service configuration
Your cloud environment secured in line with NCSC guidance on cloud service scoping and configuration.
Email and SaaS hardening
Email systems and business-critical SaaS tools brought inside your certification scope, correctly configured.
Evidence and self-assessment
Evidence, scoping documentation, and self-assessment responses prepared to speed up Certification Body approval.
CONTROL 05 / 05
Security Update (Patch) Management
Keeping all software, operating systems, and apps fully updated to remove vulnerabilities within NCSC-mandated timeframes.
ALSO INCLUDED IN EVERY ENGAGEMENT
Cloud service configuration
Your cloud environment secured in line with NCSC guidance on cloud service scoping and configuration.
Email and SaaS hardening
Email systems and business-critical SaaS tools brought inside your certification scope, correctly configured.
Evidence and self-assessment
Evidence, scoping documentation, and self-assessment responses prepared to speed up Certification Body approval.
TWO SEPARATE ENGAGEMENTS
Cyber Essentials vs Cyber Essentials Plus
Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus test different things and require different preparation. BrainTrips supports both as separate, purpose-built engagements.
Cyber Essentials
Basline
A self-assessment certification verified by an IASME-approved Certification Body. BrainTrips prepares you to answer the question set accurately and pass the first time.
- Full readiness audit against the NCSC question set.
- Remediation of the five technical controls.
- Guidance and review of your self-assessment responses prior to submission.
- Ideal for businesses needing baseline certification quickly, including for UK Government tender eligibility.
CE Plus
Verified
An independently verified standard that includes hands-on technical testing. Preparation here is materially different, and gaps are far more likely to surface under live testing.
- Internal and external vulnerability scanning ahead of the assessor's visit.
- Device sampling and configuration checks that mirror the assessor's test methodology.
- Remediation of any findings before the live audit takes place.
- Representation and technical support on assessment day, working alongside your chosen Certification Body's assessor.
- Recommended for organisations handling sensitive data or bidding for contracts that mandate CE Plus.
FROM SCOPING CALL TO CERTIFIED
Certification Value, Process & Who It's For
Cyber Essentials certification strengthens your business by demonstrating baseline security to customers, insurers, and public sector buyers. It is a mandatory requirement for many UK Government tenders and supply chain contracts. BrainTrips ensures a smooth journey from readiness assessment through to certification submission.
-
01
Initial consultation and scoping review.
-
02
Readiness assessment and gap analysis against the 5 NCSC controls.
-
03
Technical remediation and system hardening.
-
04
Pre-submission documentation review (CE) or vulnerability scanning and pre-test remediation (CE Plus).
-
05
Submission support and assessment-day representation.
-
06
Ongoing monitoring and compliance maintenance.
WHO IT”S FOR
- SMEs and growing businesses.
- Organisations bidding for UK Government tenders.
- Businesses required to demonstrate supply chain compliance to larger partners.
- Organisations handling sensitive or regulated data.
- Startups scaling operations securely.
- Businesses stepping up from Cyber Essentials to Cyber Essentials Plus.
This approach ensures your business not only achieves certification but stays secure, compliant, and positioned for growth.
-
01
Initial consultation and scoping review.
-
02
Readiness assessment and gap analysis against the 5 NCSC controls.
-
03
Technical remediation and system hardening.
-
04
Pre-submission documentation review (CE) or vulnerability scanning and pre-test remediation (CE Plus).
-
05
Submission support and assessment-day representation.
-
06
Ongoing monitoring and compliance maintenance.
WHO IT”S FOR
- SMEs and growing businesses.
- Organisations bidding for UK Government tenders.
- Businesses required to demonstrate supply chain compliance to larger partners.
- Organisations handling sensitive or regulated data.
- Startups scaling operations securely.
- Businesses stepping up from Cyber Essentials to Cyber Essentials Plus.
This approach ensures your business not only achieves certification but stays secure, compliant, and positioned for growth.
YOUR CHOSEN IASME CERTIFICATION BODY
Get Cyber Essentials Ready Without Delays
Achieving Cyber Essentials certification doesn't have to be complicated.
With BrainTrips, you get a fully managed Cyber Essentials readiness service in the UK that handles everything from audit to remediation to submission support, so your chosen IASME Certification Body sees a system that’s ready to pass.
Secure your systems, meet NCSC compliance requirements, and position your business for UK Government and supply chain opportunities.
YOUR CHOSEN IASME CERTIFICATION BODY
Get Cyber Essentials Ready Without Delays
Achieving Cyber Essentials certification doesn't have to be complicated.
With BrainTrips, you get a fully managed Cyber Essentials readiness service in the UK that handles everything from audit to remediation to submission support, so your chosen IASME Certification Body sees a system that’s ready to pass.
Secure your systems, meet NCSC compliance requirements, and position your business for UK Government and supply chain opportunities.