Cyber Essentials consultant from £1,995 — NCSC-assured Cyber Advisors, 100% first-time pass rate across 200+ certifications, 2–4 week timeline. Gap analysis, SAQ completion, CE+ audit prep, annual renewal management. 0203 834 9728.
CYBER ESSENTIALS
CONSULTANT
100% PASS · £1,995 · 2–4 WEEKS
Coreitech provides NCSC-assured Cyber Essentials consultants to help UK businesses achieve Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus certification. From gap analysis to SAQ completion and CE+ audit preparation — 100% first-time pass rate, fixed pricing, 2–4 week timeline.
"Coreitech got us Cyber Essentials Plus certified in 3 weeks. Their gap analysis caught MFA issues we didn't know we had. 100% pass, first time."
— Operations Director, Financial Services Firm, London
"We needed CE for a government tender with a 4-week deadline. Coreitech delivered certification in 18 days. Professional, thorough, and genuinely expert."
— MD, Construction Contractor, Surrey
April 27, 2026 changes increased complexity. Consultant support now strongly recommended.
Why businesses use a Cyber Essentials
consultant instead of self-certifying
The 5 Cyber Essentials controls
we audit, remediate & document
Cyber Essentials certification requires evidence across 5 technical control areas. Our consultants audit each control, remediate gaps, and document everything for your SAQ submission.
Firewalls & Internet Gateways
Boundary firewalls configured to block unauthorised inbound and outbound traffic. We audit your firewall rules, verify default credentials are changed, ensure unnecessary ports are closed, and document your boundary security configuration for the SAQ evidence pack.
Secure Configuration
All devices shipped with hardened configurations — default passwords removed, unnecessary services disabled, automatic screen lock enabled, and host-based firewalls active. We provide configuration baselines for Windows, Mac, and mobile devices aligned to v3.3.
User Access Control
Least-privilege access enforced across all systems. MFA on all cloud services (not just admin accounts — v3.3 change), role-based access reviews, strong password policies, and restricted admin account allocation. This is the #1 failure point we remediate.
Malware Protection
Anti-malware deployed on all endpoints and servers with real-time scanning enabled and definitions kept current. We verify Defender/EDR is active, configure exclusions correctly, and ensure cloud-delivered protection is enabled across your estate.
Security Update Management
All software patched within 14 days of release (v3.3 automatic failure rule). We audit your patching posture, deploy automated patch management (Intune, WSUS, or Jamf), verify OS and application currency, and remediate unsupported software before submission.
Cyber Essentials consultant services
End-to-end support from gap analysis through certification and annual renewal.
Cyber Essentials SAQ Completion
We complete your Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) accurately, ensuring all answers meet NCSC requirements. Includes gap analysis, evidence collection, and submission management.
Gap Analysis & Remediation
Full technical audit against Cyber Essentials v3.3 requirements. We identify gaps in your MFA, patching, firewall configuration, and provide step-by-step remediation before submission.
Cyber Essentials Plus Audit Prep
Prepare for your CE+ technical audit with mock testing, vulnerability scanning, workstation security checks, and assessor interview preparation. 100% first-time pass rate.
Virtual CISO & Cyber Advisor
Ongoing cyber security guidance from NCSC-assured Cyber Advisors. Quarterly reviews, policy updates, staff training, and continuous compliance monitoring.
Annual Renewal Management
Certification is annual. We manage your renewal cycle — pre-renewal gap checks, SAQ updates, evidence refresh, and submission — so certification never lapses and you're never caught off-guard.
Supply Chain Compliance
Government contracts and enterprise tenders increasingly require Cyber Essentials. We ensure your certification meets procurement requirements, insurance expectations, and client due-diligence checks.
Do you need a consultant,
a certification body, or can you self-certify?
A common confusion. You actually need two parties: a consultant to prepare you, and a certification body to assess. Here\'s how the options compare:
| Factor | Coreitech Consultant | Certification Body Only | Self-Certify |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gap analysis audit | ✓ Full technical audit | ✗ Not allowed (conflict) | ✗ You figure it out |
| Remediation support | ✓ MFA, patching, firewall fixes | ✗ Advice only | ✗ You fix it yourself |
| SAQ completion | ✓ We complete & submit | ~ You complete, they review | ✗ You complete alone |
| Pass rate | ✓ 100% first-time | ~ National average ~60% | ✗ ~60% first-time |
| Timeline | ✓ 2–4 weeks | ~ 6–12 weeks | ✗ 8–12 weeks |
| CE+ audit prep | ✓ Mock testing & prep | ~ Assessor tests you cold | ✗ No prep |
| Cost | £1,995–£3,495 | £320–£500 (CE only) | £320–£500 (CE only) |
| Best for | Businesses that want to pass first time | Organisations with in-house expertise | Very small orgs with IT knowledge |
Coreitech partners with IASME-accredited certification bodies, so we handle the full process end-to-end — you don\'t need to find a separate assessor.
How our Cyber Essentials
consulting process works
Free 30-min consultation
Initial call to understand your business, certification timeline, and current security posture. No obligation.
Gap analysis audit
Technical audit of your 5 Cyber Essentials controls: firewalls, MFA, patching, malware protection, access control.
Remediation support
We fix gaps remotely or on-site. MFA deployment, patch management setup, firewall configuration, policy documentation.
SAQ completion & submission
We complete and submit your Self-Assessment Questionnaire with evidence. Typical certification within 2-4 weeks.
Cyber Essentials consultant
pricing
Fixed-price packages. No hidden costs. 100% pass guarantee.
Prices exclude certification body fees (£320–£500 for CE, £1,500–£2,500 for CE+). All prices exclude VAT. Medium (25–99 users) and large orgs — call for a tailored quote.
"Coreitech got us Cyber Essentials Plus certified in 3 weeks — we needed it for a government tender with a 4-week deadline."
A 45-user financial services firm in London needed Cyber Essentials Plus certification for a Crown Commercial Service tender with a hard 4-week deadline. Their internal IT team had attempted self-certification twice and failed both times due to MFA gaps and patching evidence issues. Coreitech conducted a full gap analysis, deployed MFA across all cloud services, implemented automated patch management via Intune, completed the SAQ with evidence pack, and coordinated the CE+ technical audit — all within 18 working days. Certification achieved first time, tender submitted on time, contract won.
Cyber Essentials consultants
for your sector
Different sectors have different certification drivers — regulatory, procurement, or client-mandated. We understand the context for each.
What clients say about
our Cyber Essentials consultants
"Coreitech got us Cyber Essentials Plus certified in 3 weeks. Their gap analysis caught MFA issues we didn't know we had. 100% pass, first time. The CE+ audit was painless because they'd already pre-tested everything."
"We needed CE for a government tender with a 4-week deadline. Coreitech delivered certification in 18 days. Professional, thorough, and genuinely expert — they understood the procurement context, not just the technical controls."
"After two failed self-certification attempts, Coreitech had us certified in 2 weeks. The difference was night and day — they actually understood the v3.3 requirements and had real evidence, not guesses."
Cyber Essentials consultant —
frequently asked questions
Q.What does a Cyber Essentials consultant do?
A Cyber Essentials consultant helps you achieve certification by: (1) conducting a gap analysis against the 5 technical controls (firewalls, secure configuration, user access control, malware protection, security update management), (2) remediating security gaps (MFA, patching, firewalls), (3) completing your Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ), (4) submitting to an IASME certification body, and (5) preparing you for Cyber Essentials Plus audits. Coreitech consultants are NCSC-assured Cyber Advisors with 100% first-time pass rate across 200+ certifications.
Q.How much does a Cyber Essentials consultant cost?
Cyber Essentials consultant support typically costs £1,500–£3,500+VAT depending on organisation size and complexity. Coreitech offers fixed-price packages: £1,995 (micro 0–9 users), £2,495 (small 10–24 users), £3,495 (medium 25–99 users). This includes gap analysis, remediation support, SAQ completion, and certification submission. Cyber Essentials Plus adds £1,500–£2,500 for the technical audit. Certification body fees (£320–£500 for CE, £1,500–£2,500 for CE+) are separate.
Q.How long does it take to get Cyber Essentials certification with a consultant?
With a consultant, most businesses achieve Cyber Essentials certification within 2–4 weeks. Timeline depends on: (1) current security posture (gap analysis findings), (2) speed of remediation (MFA deployment, patching), (3) SAQ completion speed, and (4) certification body processing times (typically 5–10 working days). Coreitech's 100% first-time pass rate means no delays from failed submissions — unlike self-certification which takes 8–12 weeks due to learning curve and re-submissions.
Q.Do I need a consultant for Cyber Essentials or can I do it myself?
You can self-certify without a consultant, but 40% of first-time self-assessments fail due to incorrect SAQ answers, misunderstood requirements, or inadequate evidence. A consultant ensures: (1) correct interpretation of v3.3 requirements, (2) proper MFA configuration (the #1 failure point), (3) accurate scope definition, (4) complete evidence collection, and (5) 100% first-time pass rate. For Cyber Essentials Plus, a consultant is strongly recommended due to technical audit complexity — assessors test your actual configurations, not just your answers.
Q.What is the difference between a Cyber Essentials consultant and a certification body?
A consultant (like Coreitech) helps you prepare — gap analysis, remediation, SAQ completion, audit prep. A certification body (like IASME-accredited bodies) assesses and issues the certificate — they cannot also consult due to conflict of interest. You need both: a consultant to get you ready, and a certification body to assess. Coreitech partners with IASME-accredited certification bodies, so we handle the full process end-to-end — you don't need to find a separate assessor.
Q.What are the 5 Cyber Essentials technical controls?
The 5 technical controls are: (1) Firewalls and Internet Gateways — boundary protection blocking unauthorised traffic; (2) Secure Configuration — hardened devices with default passwords changed and unnecessary services disabled; (3) User Access Control — least-privilege access, MFA, strong passwords; (4) Malware Protection — anti-malware on all endpoints with real-time scanning; (5) Security Update Management — all software patched within 14 days of release (v3.3 automatic failure rule). A consultant audits each control, remediates gaps, and documents evidence for the SAQ.
Q.What are the 2026 Cyber Essentials v3.3 changes and do I need a consultant?
From April 27, 2026, Cyber Essentials v3.3 introduced: (1) stricter MFA requirements (all cloud services, not just admin accounts), (2) automatic failure for unpatched devices >14 days, (3) new Danzell questionnaire with expanded cloud security questions, (4) mandatory mobile device management for BYOD. These changes increased failure rates by 23%. A consultant ensures compliance with v3.3, especially the MFA and patching requirements which are the most common failure points.
Q.What is the difference between Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus?
Cyber Essentials is self-assessment based (SAQ questionnaire completed by you or your consultant). Cyber Essentials Plus includes everything in CE plus: (1) technical audit by an assessor, (2) vulnerability scanning of internet-facing IPs, (3) workstation security testing via screen-sharing, (4) internal vulnerability scan, (5) malware protection verification. Plus costs £1,500–£2,500 more but provides stronger assurance for enterprise clients, government contracts, and regulated sectors. Many organisations get CE first, then upgrade to Plus within 3 months.
Q.Are you an NCSC-assured Cyber Advisor?
Yes. Coreitech consultants are NCSC-assured Cyber Advisors through IASME. This means we're officially recognised by the National Cyber Security Centre to provide Cyber Essentials guidance and support. We maintain continuous professional development, follow NCSC guidelines, and have 100% first-time pass rate across 200+ certifications. The NCSC Cyber Advisor scheme is the UK government's official assurance route for cyber security consultancy.
Q.What if we fail Cyber Essentials?
With Coreitech, you won't fail. Our 100% first-time pass rate comes from: (1) thorough gap analysis before submission, (2) remediation of all critical gaps, (3) internal review of SAQ answers, (4) evidence verification before submission. If the certification body requests clarifications, we handle them immediately. In the rare case of failure, we re-submit at no extra cost — that's our pass guarantee.
Q.Do you support Cyber Essentials renewal?
Yes. Cyber Essentials certification is annual — it expires every 12 months. Coreitech manages the full renewal cycle: pre-renewal gap checks (3 months before expiry), SAQ updates reflecting any infrastructure changes, evidence refresh, re-submission, and CE+ re-audit scheduling. Many clients fail to renew on time and lose their certification status — we ensure that never happens with automated renewal reminders and proactive management.
Q.Can you help if we need Cyber Essentials for a government contract or tender?
Absolutely. Cyber Essentials is mandatory for UK government contracts and increasingly required by large enterprises, local authorities, NHS supply chains, and financial services vendors. We understand the procurement context — we ensure your certification meets specific tender requirements (some require CE+, some require certification within the last 6 months), provide the documentation procurement teams need, and fast-track certification for urgent bid deadlines. Call 0203 834 9728 for expedited certification.
Get Cyber Essentials certified
with expert consultant support
Free 30-minute consultation — we\'ll review your current security posture, explain v3.3 requirements, and provide a fixed-price quote.
100% first-time pass rate · 2–4 week certification · NCSC-assured Cyber Advisors · 200+ certifications delivered