More Than Just a Certificate: Strengthening Cybersecurity with Cyber Essentials Plus

The Challenge

For businesses looking to strengthen their cybersecurity, achieving Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus certification provides an opportunity to do more than demonstrate compliance with a recognised standard.

The certification process can also help organisations examine their existing security arrangements, identify opportunities for improvement and gain greater confidence in the controls they have implemented.

Dinobyte Ltd approached the certification process with this wider objective in mind.

Rather than treating Cyber Essentials as simply another compliance requirement, the company wanted to use the assessment as an opportunity to review its cybersecurity controls and make meaningful improvements where necessary.

Dinobyte engaged Plainsight Security to deliver both Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus certification, with an emphasis on clear communication, practical guidance and an assessment process appropriate to the size of the business.

Our Approach

Plainsight Security worked closely with Dinobyte throughout both stages of certification, providing technical expertise and responsive support.

Cyber Essentials

The initial Cyber Essentials assessment focused on the five fundamental technical controls that form the foundation of the scheme:

• Firewalls
• Secure configuration
• Security update management
• User access control
• Malware protection

Throughout the process, Plainsight Security provided guidance to help Dinobyte understand the requirements, clarify technical questions and identify the evidence needed to demonstrate compliance.

Rather than simply working through an assessment questionnaire, the engagement encouraged a clearer understanding of the controls being assessed and why they matter.

Cyber Essentials Plus

Following Cyber Essentials, Dinobyte progressed to Cyber Essentials Plus, which provides additional assurance through independent technical testing.

This involved verifying that relevant security controls were implemented effectively across the organisation's assessed systems.

Plainsight Security explained what was being tested, why particular checks were necessary and what evidence was required.

This transparent approach helped Dinobyte understand the technical assessment rather than simply viewing it as a pass-or-fail exercise.

Turning Certification into Practical Security Improvements

One of the most valuable outcomes of the engagement was Dinobyte's decision to use the certification process to review and strengthen its existing security arrangements.

As the assessments progressed, the company took the opportunity to examine a number of its security controls and make improvements where appropriate.

This demonstrates an important principle: Cyber Essentials certification should not be the end goal of cybersecurity, but part of an organisation's ongoing commitment to improving its defences.

By understanding the reasoning behind the requirements, businesses can make more informed decisions about how they configure, manage and protect their systems.

For Dinobyte, the result was more than the achievement of two recognised certifications. The process also contributed to meaningful improvements in its cybersecurity posture.

A Straightforward and Proportionate Assessment

Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus apply to organisations of different sizes, from small businesses to large enterprises.

Although the scheme requirements must be applied consistently, the way an assessment is organised and communicated can be adapted to suit the organisation.

For Dinobyte, Plainsight Security provided a straightforward and professional experience, taking the time to explain technical requirements and respond promptly to questions.

The approach ensured the certification process remained proportionate to the size of the business without compromising the required assessment standards.

Clear communication throughout the engagement helped make the process both manageable and useful.

The Outcome

Dinobyte successfully completed its Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus certification, gaining recognised assurance over its fundamental cybersecurity controls.

More importantly, the organisation used the process to review and strengthen aspects of its security, delivering benefits beyond the certificates themselves.

Following the engagement, Dinobyte awarded Plainsight Security 5/5 in every category, achieving an overall customer satisfaction rating of 100%.

100% Client Satisfaction

What the Client Said

"Really positive experience with Plainsight Security for both our Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus certification.

Mark was super responsive throughout and always happy to explain what was being tested, what evidence he was looking for, and why. That made the whole process a lot more useful than just ticking boxes to get through an assessment.

The process was straightforward, professional and proportionate to the size of the business, and where I had questions or needed clarification, I always got a clear answer.

We used the certification process as a chance to properly review and tighten up a number of our security controls, so we’ve come out of it with more than just the badges.

Very happy with the service and I’d definitely recommend Plainsight Security to anyone looking to go through Cyber Essentials or Cyber Essentials Plus."

Aaron Jones
Dinobyte Ltd

More Than Just the Badges

Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus provide recognised certification against important cybersecurity requirements, but the real value comes from understanding and maintaining the controls behind them.

When approached constructively, certification can help businesses:

• Review existing cybersecurity arrangements
• Understand why particular security controls are necessary
• Identify opportunities to strengthen protection
• Gain independent assurance through technical testing
• Build confidence in their approach to cybersecurity

Dinobyte's experience demonstrates how certification can become a positive part of an organisation's security improvement journey rather than simply an administrative requirement.

As Aaron Jones explained:

"We used the certification process as a chance to properly review and tighten up a number of our security controls, so we’ve come out of it with more than just the badges."

Ready to Get More from Cyber Essentials?

Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus should be straightforward to understand, professionally delivered and genuinely useful to your business.

At Plainsight Security, we combine experienced technical assessment with clear communication and practical guidance, helping organisations navigate certification while gaining a better understanding of their cybersecurity.

Whether you're pursuing certification for the first time or preparing for your annual renewal, we're here to help.

Contact Plainsight Security to discuss your Cyber Essentials or Cyber Essentials Plus requirements.