HOW MUCH DOES
CYBER ESSENTIALS
COST?
A full, transparent breakdown of Cyber Essentials certification costs in the UK for 2025 — IASME assessment fees, preparation costs, and what affects the total price for your business.
Cyber Essentials certification
cost breakdown 2026
All prices correct as of 2025. IASME fees are set by the certification body; preparation costs depend on your current security posture.
Cyber Essentials Basic
- Self-assessment questionnaire support
- Gap assessment & remediation plan
- Policy documentation (AUP, Patch Policy)
- Technical configuration (MFA, firewall, AV)
- Pre-submission review
- Certification badge on completion
Cyber Essentials Plus
- Everything in Cyber Essentials Basic
- Independent IASME technical verification
- Endpoint vulnerability scanning
- Internal network scanning
- Simulated external attack testing
- Full audit-ready documentation
What affects the cost of
Cyber Essentials certification?
Current security posture
Businesses with MFA already enabled, up-to-date patching, and firewall rules in place need less preparation work — and pay less. Gap-heavy environments require more remediation.
Number of devices in scope
Every device that can access organisational data is in scope for Cyber Essentials. More devices = more configuration work = higher preparation cost.
Cloud vs on-premise
Microsoft 365 environments are well-understood and typically faster to certify. Complex on-premise or hybrid environments with legacy systems require more work.
Missing policy documentation
If you have no Acceptable Use Policy, Patch Management Policy, or Access Control Policy, these need to be drafted. Coreitech includes this in our preparation support.
CE vs CE+
Cyber Essentials Plus requires independent technical testing — this is inherently more expensive than the Basic self-assessment route. The IASME fee alone is 5x higher.
Organisation size
IASME fees scale by employee count. Preparation costs also increase with size — more users, more devices, more configuration work required.
Is Cyber Essentials worth the cost?
For most UK businesses, yes. Here's why the cost of Cyber Essentials certification is justified:
Cyber Essentials cost
— common questions
Q.How much does Cyber Essentials cost in the UK?
The IASME certification body assessment fee for Cyber Essentials Basic is currently £300+VAT for organisations with fewer than 99 employees. For larger organisations (100–249 employees) the fee is higher. This is just the assessment fee — most organisations also need preparation support (gap assessment, remediation, documentation) which typically costs an additional £500–£1,500 for an SME. Total cost for Cyber Essentials certification for a typical London SME is usually £800–£1,800 all-in.
Q.How much does Cyber Essentials Plus cost?
Cyber Essentials Plus is significantly more expensive than Basic because it involves hands-on technical testing by an independent assessor. The IASME assessment fee varies by organisation size and complexity — typically £1,500–£5,000. Preparation support (remediation and pre-assessment testing) adds a further £1,000–£3,000. Total cost for CE+ for a typical SME is usually £2,500–£8,000. Coreitech provides fixed-fee CE+ packages — contact us for a quote.
Q.What is the IASME assessment fee?
IASME is the body accredited by the NCSC to deliver Cyber Essentials certification. The IASME assessment fee for Cyber Essentials Basic is set at £300+VAT for organisations under 99 employees (as of 2025). This fee covers the formal assessment and certification process. The fee for Cyber Essentials Plus is set by the assessor and varies by complexity — typically £1,500–£5,000.
Q.Are there hidden costs in Cyber Essentials certification?
The IASME assessment fee is a fixed, published cost. The variable element is preparation — how much work is needed to bring your systems up to the required standard. Organisations with modern cloud environments, MFA already enabled, and up-to-date patching may need very little preparation. Organisations with legacy systems, missing policies, or security gaps will need more work. Coreitech provides a free gap assessment so you know exactly what's needed before committing to a fixed-fee engagement.
Q.Can I get Cyber Essentials certified cheaply without a consultant?
Technically yes — you can complete the Cyber Essentials self-assessment questionnaire yourself and pay only the IASME fee (£300+VAT). However, the failure rate for businesses that attempt this without preparation support is significant. Common failure points include missing MFA, misconfigured firewalls, unpatched software, and missing policy documentation. If you fail, you'll need to remediate and resubmit, potentially delaying certification. Using a specialist like Coreitech typically results in first-time certification and saves time overall.
Q.Does Cyber Essentials certification cost more for larger businesses?
Yes. The IASME assessment fee scales with organisation size. For organisations with 100–249 employees it is higher than the £300+VAT small business rate. For larger organisations and Cyber Essentials Plus, the assessment fee is individually scoped. Preparation costs also increase with organisation size due to the greater number of devices, users, and systems that need to be assessed and remediated.
Q.Is Cyber Essentials certification worth the cost?
Yes, for most UK businesses. The direct benefits include: access to UK government and NHS contracts (which mandate CE), free cyber liability insurance for small businesses (up to £25,000), reduced cyber insurance premiums, and protection against the majority of common cyber attacks. For businesses in London's professional services sector, CE certification is increasingly a client requirement — without it, you risk losing business to certified competitors.
Q.Does Cyber Essentials renewal cost the same?
Cyber Essentials must be renewed annually. The IASME renewal fee is the same as the initial certification fee. Preparation costs for renewal are typically lower if your security controls have been maintained year-round. Coreitech's managed IT clients stay permanently CE-ready, making annual renewal quick and low-cost.
Get a fixed-price Cyber Essentials quote
We'll assess your current environment and give you a clear, fixed-price quote for Cyber Essentials certification — Basic or Plus. No surprises, no open-ended consulting fees.