Frequently asked questions

BrightCert is a Cyber Essentials readiness platform for UK SMEs. It helps businesses assess their current position, identify gaps, and prepare before applying for official certification.

No. BrightCert does not issue the official Cyber Essentials certificate. BrightCert provides readiness assessment, gap analysis, and preparation support. Official certification is handled through IASME Certification Bodies.

Cyber Essentials is a UK Government-backed scheme designed to help organisations protect themselves against common online threats.

BrightCert is for UK SMEs that want to understand how ready they are for Cyber Essentials before applying. It is also useful for business owners, operations managers, internal IT teams, and MSPs supporting SME clients.

Most businesses complete the assessment in around 2 hours.

You receive a readiness score, control-by-control analysis, gap findings, and prioritised remediation steps. You can unlock the full report and PDF download for £99 including VAT with code FOUNDING10, for the first 10 customers — a £100 founding discount from the standard £199 price.

1. Boundary Firewalls & Internet Gateways, 2. Secure Configuration, 3. User Access Control, 4. Malware Protection, 5. Security Update Management.

No. BrightCert is a preparation tool. You still need to apply through the official certification route when you are ready.

Yes. BrightCert can help you organise your current position and create a clearer action list to review with your IT provider.

No. Your BrightCert report is a readiness report, not a certification decision or pass guarantee. It helps you identify likely gaps and prepare more effectively before applying.