Cyber Essentials is the UK government scheme most public sector and larger private contracts now ask for. I get Wigan organisations through it by fixing the things that fail, not by handing you a questionnaire and wishing you luck.
A short review against the five controls, with a plain list of what passes today and what needs work before you submit.
Firewalls, secure configuration, user access, malware protection and patch management, brought up to standard on your actual machines.
Screenshots, policy wording and device inventories gathered so the questionnaire is a form-filling exercise rather than a research project.
I draft the responses, you review them. No consultant vocabulary you would struggle to defend.
Certification lapses when patching slips. Ongoing monitoring keeps you in a state where next year's renewal is routine.
Useful well beyond the certificate itself when a tender asks how you handle data and security.
Local proof
Live IT is not a franchise or a call centre. It is one person in Leigh, WN7, looking after property agents, trades, contractors and charities across the borough and the wider North West.
Wigan FAQ
For a typical Wigan small business with tidy systems, two to four weeks including remediation. If there are unsupported machines or missing MFA, allow longer.
Unsupported Windows versions, missing multi-factor authentication on cloud accounts, everyday accounts with admin rights, and patches more than 14 days behind.
If you bid for council, NHS or central government work, almost certainly. Plenty of larger private clients and insurers now ask too.
No, that is paid to the certification body directly. My part is the preparation, remediation and evidence, quoted separately.
Kind words
Liam has a professional approach in all the work he carries out. He is an excellent communicator with extensive knowledge and experience in computing and ICT development, including hardware and software. He supports others who are not confident with ICT to develop and sustain skills in this field.
Liam is professional, knowledgeable and efficient. He is very dedicated and passionate about what he does and always provides excellent customer service. He is a pleasure to deal with and I would not hesitate to recommend him and Live IT to all my contacts.
Liam has offered valued, comprehensive and economical IT support for a number of years. My IT skills are limited, however Liam is able to offer IT solutions and explain technical problems in simple laymen terms, often with the patience of a saint. His friendly, technical advice and support is always offered in a timely and professional manner.
Free, no obligation
An honest review of where you are now, the biggest risks, and the two or three things worth fixing first. Whether you become a client or not.
