Cyber Essentials

The five Cyber Essentials controls are: firewalls, secure configuration, user access control, malware protection, and security update (patch) management. The self-assessed Cyber Essentials certificate confirms these controls are in place; Cyber Essentials Plus adds independent technical verification through on-site or remote testing. The scheme was developed by the UK's National Cyber Security Centre and is designed to stop the large majority of unsophisticated, opportunistic attacks that cause most real-world breaches.

Although it is a UK scheme, its relevance extends to Caribbean businesses that trade with UK clients, hold UK government contracts, or simply want a recognised, affordable baseline rather than building a security programme from first principles. It is not a substitute for a full risk assessment or a certification such as ISO 27001, but it is a practical, well-documented starting point for organisations with limited in-house security expertise.

For most small and mid-sized businesses in the region, achieving the five Cyber Essentials controls closes off the majority of the exposure that leads to ransomware and credential-theft incidents.