The Problem

being unable to bid for government contracts or certain tenders because you don't hold Cyber Essentials certification, and not knowing where to start.

What I Do

a guided Cyber Essentials certification process: gap assessment, remediation against the five controls, questionnaire completion, and submission to an IASME-accredited certifying body so you get the badge and win more contracts.

How This Plays Out in Lewes

Lewes's professional firms near Lewes Castle often win work on reputation alone, but a growing number of public-sector and larger commercial tenders now ask for Cyber Essentials before they'll even open your bid. For a small BN7 practice or a firm serving clients across the Ouse Valley, the certification is five specific controls, not a rewrite of how you work: firewalls, secure device setup, access permissions, malware protection, and patching. I assess what's already solid, put right what isn't, and prepare the self-assessment for submission to an accredited body.

Postcode area
BN7, BN8
Council
Lewes District Council
Population
17,297
Nearest station
Lewes

Not quite in Lewes? I also cover Peacehaven (5.5 mi), Saltdean (5.7 mi), Newhaven (5.9 mi).

What's Covered

  • IASME Certifying Body Submission
  • Cloud services in scope (M365, Google, etc.) reviewed
  • Secure configuration baseline for every device
  • Password policy aligned to the standard
  • Cyber Essentials Plus upgrade path mapped
  • Evidence pack ready for the assessor
  • Mobile and BYOD device policy
  • Annual renewal reminder and support
  • Firewall review across office and remote workers
  • Readiness Assessment & Gap Analysis

Your Questions, Answered

Do sole traders near Lewes Castle need Cyber Essentials?

Only if a client or tender asks for it, but that's increasingly common even for small firms. If you handle any client data on a laptop or phone, it's worth having ready before it's requested rather than scrambling afterwards.

What are the five Cyber Essentials controls?

Firewalls, secure configuration, user access control, malware protection, and patch management. I assess your current setup against all five and fix any gaps before submission.

What if I fail the self-assessment?

Most businesses need some remediation first. I identify the gaps in advance and fix them before you submit, so you pass first time.

How much is the certification fee?

The IASME certifying body charges around £300 for the basic certification. This is separate from my preparation fee and is paid directly to the certifying body.

How long does certification take?

It depends on how much remediation is needed against the five controls. An already-tidy setup is quick; businesses that need to harden a few things first take longer. I scope the remediation and fix any gaps before submission so you pass first time rather than rushing in and failing.

Investment

Costs vary with the size of the job and the state of your current setup. Tell me what's going on and I'll quote you straight, for free.

How Many Leads Is Your Website Losing You?

Most trades websites quietly leak leads every week: slow load, buried phone number, missing local pages. Answer 10 quick questions and I'll show you exactly where yours is bleeding, how many enquiries it could be costing you each month, and the three fixes that would make the biggest difference.

Ready to Get Started?

No contact forms disappearing into the void: you're talking directly to the person who does the work, covering Lewes.