Cyber Essentials

Cyber Essentials Readiness Check for small business

A free Cyber Essentials checklist for small business without an IT manager. Get your Compliance Readiness Score, an automated readiness dashboard and a clear list of Actionable Framework Fixes.

5–10 minutes • Plain English • No technical knowledge required

Automated Readiness Dashboard

Instantly see which Cyber Essentials controls you already meet and which need attention.

Actionable Framework Fixes

Each next step comes with a clear, plain-English fix you can complete without a consultant.

Built for small organisations

Designed for SMEs, charities and community groups without dedicated IT staff.

How it works

1
Complete the Compliance Assessment
Answer plain-English questions about how your business actually works.
2
Get your Framework Readiness Score
See exactly where you stand against Cyber Essentials, control by control.
3
Use your Dashboard to map and implement the fixes
Work through your Actionable Framework Fixes at your own pace, no IT team required.

Who it's for

UK small businesses preparing for their first Cyber Essentials certification
Charities and community groups without dedicated IT staff
Owners and operations leads who need a Cyber Essentials checklist they can actually follow
Suppliers asked to demonstrate baseline cybersecurity to customers or funders

Going for Cyber Essentials Plus?

Plus is not a questionnaire. An assessor tests your systems in front of you. Our Plus readiness page walks you through the five tests they actually run, what gets sampled, and the sixteen things that need to be true before audit day.

See the Plus readiness check

Frequently asked questions

What is a Cyber Essentials readiness score?

It is a plain-English metric that shows how close your small business is to meeting the UK Cyber Essentials framework, highlighting where to focus before your official assessment.

Is there a Cyber Essentials checklist for small business without an IT manager?

Yes. Our readiness check works as a Cyber Essentials checklist for small business without an IT manager, every question is in plain English with clear, non-technical examples.

How do I find what still needs doing for Cyber Essentials?

By completing a non-technical readiness check that maps your current habits and settings against the framework requirements to generate an actionable fix checklist.

Can a business without an IT lead pass Cyber Essentials?

Yes. By breaking the framework down into plain-English daily habits and clear dashboard fixes, any small business can achieve Cyber Essentials without dedicated IT staff.