BrightCert

How it works

Cyber Essentials preparation, step by step

BrightCert gives UK SMEs a clear way to prepare for Cyber Essentials before applying for official certification. Instead of starting with uncertainty, you start with a guided assessment.

  1. 01

    Create your assessment

    Start by entering basic information about your organisation, including your business size, sector, and the systems you use. This helps BrightCert understand the context of your answers and tailor the readiness analysis around your organisation.

    Takes about 5 minutes to set up
  2. 02

    Answer questions across five control areas

    The assessment is split into the five Cyber Essentials control areas. Each section is designed to be clear and manageable. You can work through the questions in order and see your progress as you go.

    60 questions total · 12 per area
    01Boundary Firewalls & Internet Gateways
    02Secure Configuration
    03User Access Control
    04Malware Protection
    05Security Update Management
  3. 03

    Review your readiness score

    Once your assessment is complete, BrightCert analyses your answers and gives you an overall readiness score. You will also see how each control area is performing, with clear status labels such as pass, warning, or fail.

    Pass · warning · fail per area
  4. 04

    Understand your gaps

    BrightCert explains where your business may need improvement before applying for certification. Each gap is written in practical language, so you know what the issue is, why it matters, and what to do next.

    Plain-English findings
  5. 05

    Unlock your full report

    Your full report gives you a structured action plan that can be shared internally, reviewed with your IT provider, or used to support your preparation before applying through a Certification Body.

    PDF · shareable with your team
Start your Cyber Essentials readiness assessment
BrightCert provides Cyber Essentials readiness assessment and preparation support. BrightCert does not issue official Cyber Essentials certification: official certification is provided through IASME Certification Bodies.