Trust is everything and trust for most companies that handle private and confidential information is being measured in how robust your cybersecurity is. Accountancy and law firms’ client data is very valuable and cybercriminals know that targeting these companies is a soft target, as historically they didn’t always keep up with technology. One way the UK government is trying to address the problem is by implementing the Cyber Essentials Plus certification.
Achieving Cyber Essentials Plus show your customers that you are compliant and are taking security seriously. It boosts credibility and protects your business against potential cyberattacks.
What Is Cyber Essentials Plus?
Cyber Essentials Plus is the advanced tier of the UK Government’s Cyber Essentials scheme. While Cyber Essentials requires a self-assessment, Plus includes a technical audit by a certified body like IT Backbone, which tests your defences in real-life scenarios.
What’s Tested in Cyber Essentials Plus?
- Email protection and phishing defences
- Endpoint security (laptops, desktops, mobiles)
- Secure configuration of systems
- Patch management
- Malware protection
- Firewall and boundary security
- User access controls
This is not a box-ticking exercise, it’s proof that your cybersecurity is actively working as it should.
Why It Matters for Accountancy and Law Firms
1. Your Clients Expect It
You’re handling highly sensitive data, legal contracts, financial records, and personal information. Clients need to know their data is safe. Cyber Essentials Plus shows you’re serious about safeguarding it.
“Cyber Essentials Plus is becoming a trust signal, clients and partners now expect it.”
— IT Backbone, Cybersecurity Consultant
2. Regulatory Compliance
For many legal and financial services firms, Cyber Essentials Plus helps meet data protection requirements under GDPR, ICO guidelines, and SRA standards. It may also reduce risk under professional indemnity insurance.
3. Competitive Advantage
Many tenders or high-value clients require CE+ as part of their procurement process. Firms without it will be excluded.
4. Proactive Risk Management
Ransomware, phishing, and data breaches are on the rise, and professional services are key targets. CE+ verifies your systems can defend against these threats, with a clear incident response plan if things go wrong.
Common Cybersecurity Risks We See in Professional Services
- Staff using personal devices with poor security
- Remote work setups that bypass office firewalls
- Lack of Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) on key systems
- Missed software updates or unsupported operating systems
- Poor password hygiene across the firm
These risks often fly under the radar, but they’re exactly what Cyber Essentials Plus is designed to expose and fix.
How IT Backbone Makes Certification Simple
We guide you through the entire CE+ process, from prep to pass.
Pre-Audit Assessment
We run a mock audit to identify gaps before the official one. No surprises, no failures.
Fixing the Gaps
We help you make any required changes, from deploying antivirus software to setting up secure VPNs or MFA.
Technical Audit Support
We liaise with the certification body, coordinate the testing and ensure your systems are ready.
Documentation & Policy Support
We help you write acceptable use policies or incident response plans.
Ongoing Cybersecurity Partnership
Cyber Essentials Plus isn’t just a one-time goal; it’s a culture shift. We offer ongoing support to keep you protected beyond certification.
IT Backbone is your cybersecurity partner who understands your sector and knows how to get you certified with minimal disruption.
For more information
Book a FREE CHAT with Jason to discuss your company needs
Call the office and speak to us directly
020 7199 2222
