GET CYBER
CERTIFIED.

CE · CE Plus · DCC Level 0 · Pen Testing
IASME Approved Body.

The UK Government-backed certification that unlocks government contracts and proves your security. Delivered direct from an IASME Approved Body - no jargon, no middlemen, no add-ons, no surprises. From £320 + VAT.

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FULLY REMOTEGUIDED SUPPORTPLAIN ENGLISH
// What We Offer

OUR SERVICES

Cyber Essentials (CE), Cyber Essentials Plus (CE Plus), Defence Cyber Certification (DCC) Level 0 and penetration testing - delivered direct, in plain English.

CYBER ESSENTIALS (CE) CERTIFICATION

  • Guided submission support
  • Free £25k liability insurance
  • IASME fee - no hidden costs
  • Remote, UK-based team
  • Readiness checklist included
From £320+ VAT · IASME fee included
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CYBER ESSENTIALS PLUS (CE Plus) CERTIFICATION

  • Pre-Assessment Check
  • Independent technical audit
  • Free 30-day rescan included
  • Direct lead assessor
  • Bundle with CE and save
From £1195+ VAT · IASME fee included
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DEFENCE CYBER CERTIFICATION (DCC) LEVEL 0

  • Named lead assessor Included
  • MOD DEFCON 658 compliant
  • 3-year certificate validity
  • Annual attestation support
  • Pre-audit evidence review
From £650+ VAT · IASME fee included
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PENETRATION TESTING AND CLOUD REVIEWS

  • CVSS-scored findings report
  • Executive summary included
  • Networks, apps, cloud & MDM
  • Free 30-day retest included
  • Fixed-price, no scope creep
From £1,499+ VAT · fixed-price scoping
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// Verified Credentials

IASME APPROVED CERTIFICATION BODY

Our accreditations are publicly verifiable. Vincent Cyber Defence is authorised by IASME - the UK Government-appointed scheme owner - to assess and certify organisations for Cyber Essentials, Cyber Essentials Plus, and DCC Level 0. These are not self-declared - every badge below links to our live entry on the IASME public registry.

Hover each badge to verify our accreditation status directly on the IASME registry

// The Process

HOW IT WORKS

For CE, CE Plus, and DCC Level 0 - remote, guided, and built around getting you certified first time.

1

INITIAL SCOPING

We review your IT environment and identify what's in scope, clarifying all requirements in plain English.

2

READINESS REVIEW

Our team assesses your current security controls and highlights any gaps before formal submission.

3

GUIDED SUBMISSION

We explain each requirement, review your draft responses, and act as a sounding board.

4

CERTIFIED ✓

You receive your IASME-issued certificate, listed on the IASME public register. Ready to share with clients.

// Transparent Pricing

IASME FEE INCLUDED. NO SURPRISES.

Cyber Essentials from £320, CE Plus from £1,195 - all + VAT with the IASME certification fee included. Fixed pricing, no add-ons, no middlemen.

See Pricing →
UK business team certified with Cyber Essentials by Vincent Cyber Defence
// Why Choose Us

CYBER SECURITY WITHOUT THE JARGON

Most certification bodies open a portal, hand you a questionnaire, and wait. If you fail, you resubmit. We don't work that way.

GUIDED SUPPORT

We guide you through every step - identifying gaps before you formally submit, so you go in prepared with no surprises.

UK-BASED SPECIALISTS

Every assessment is led by experienced UK-based professionals who know the frameworks inside out.

DEADLINE-AWARE

Government procurement deadlines are fixed. We work backwards from your tender date and tell you clearly whether your timeline is achievable - and what needs to happen to meet it.

LONG-TERM PARTNER

We aim to be your cyber security partner beyond the certificate - supporting renewals, advising on evolving requirements, and growing with your business as your security posture matures.

FEES INCLUDED, NO MIDDLEMEN

All prices include the IASME certification fee. You deal directly with an Approved Certification Body - no resellers, no markups, no surprises.

FULLY REMOTE

Every assessment is conducted remotely - no site visits, no travel costs, no disruption to your team. Get certified from anywhere in the UK or internationally.

FREE CYBER LIABILITY INSURANCE - UP TO £25,000

UK organisations with annual turnover under £20m automatically receive free cyber liability insurance up to £25,000 with their Cyber Essentials certificate. No extra cost, no separate application - included as standard for whole-organisation scope.

// Client Reviews

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

★★★★★
"The Cyber Essentials process was simple, quick and well explained. We achieved a first-time pass without unnecessary stress - couldn't recommend them more."

- SME DIRECTOR / West Midlands

★★★★★
"The penetration test was thorough and professional. The report was clear and well-structured, helping us prioritise and fix real risks quickly."

- IT MANAGER / UK Financial Services

★★★★★
"Vincent Cyber Defence guided us through DCC Level 0 in plain English. We're now tender-ready for MOD contracts - completely painless from start to finish."

- OPERATIONS MANAGER / Defence Supply Chain

Client names are withheld in line with confidentiality requirements; character references are available upon request.

// vCISO Support

NEED MORE THAN JUST A CERT?

Getting certified is step one. Staying certified - and being ready when the next tender lands - is what comes after. Our vCISO plans give you a named security lead without the cost of hiring one.

  • →CE/CE+ recertification managed for you each year
  • →Security policy pack maintained and current
  • →Continuous patch & vulnerability monitoring (up to 8 devices)
  • →Named point of contact - no account managers, no handoffs
  • →Advisory support when a tender questionnaire lands

From £195/month + VAT · 3-month minimum, then rolling monthly

See vCISO Plans →

STARTING FROM NOTHING?

A vCISO plan can begin before your first certification. We scope your setup, get you audit-ready, and guide you through CE, CE+, and DCC Level 0 as they become relevant - keeping going once you are certified.

One point of contact for the whole journey - instead of a new supplier at every stage.

Explore vCISO Support →
// By Sector

We work across all sectors - click to see how Cyber Essentials applies to yours.

Small BusinessGovernment & DefenceSchools & MATsHealthcare & LabsManufacturing & Supply ChainLaw Firms & SolicitorsTechnology & SoftwareFinancial ServicesCharities & Non-Profits
// FAQ

COMMON QUESTIONS

Everything you need to know about Cyber Essentials, DCC Level 0, penetration testing and vCISO support.

Cyber Essentials is a UK Government-backed scheme covering five core security controls: firewalls, secure configuration, user access control, malware protection, and security update management. Certification demonstrates to clients and partners that your business takes cyber security seriously.
Cyber Essentials is self-assessed - you complete a questionnaire about your five controls, with Vincent Cyber Defence guiding you through every requirement and reviewing your answers before submission. Cyber Essentials Plus adds an independent technical audit by a qualified assessor who verifies your controls are correctly implemented in practice. Plus is often required for government and enterprise contracts. See the full comparison →
Defence Cyber Certification (DCC) Level 0 is the entry-level certification for UK MOD supply chain suppliers, assessed against Def Stan 05-138. It is designed for organisations with a Very Low Cyber Risk Profile - including those not yet engaged with the MOD who want to certify proactively. DCC is not currently mandatory but is expected to become a requirement across all MOD procurement. Cyber Essentials is a mandatory prerequisite.
Timelines depend on your organisation's readiness, but our process is built for speed without sacrificing accuracy. We can work to tight deadlines for tender submissions. All assessments are conducted remotely, minimising disruption to your team.
Our penetration testing covers networks, servers, web applications, and cloud environments. Conducted by highly experienced professionals, you receive a detailed report with risks prioritised using industry-standard metrics and clear, evidence-based remediation guidance.
Yes. Cyber Essentials is not restricted to UK-registered organisations. We have certified companies based in the United States, Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland, Spain, and Italy - typically to meet UK government procurement requirements, NHS supply chain conditions, or enterprise client due diligence. All assessments are conducted fully remotely so your location is no barrier. Learn more about Cyber Essentials →
Cyber Essentials is not a legal requirement, but it is mandatory for most UK government contracts involving personal data or sensitive technical services. Many enterprise and NHS supply chains also require it as a condition of doing business. If a tender or contract asks for it, it is mandatory for that opportunity - and the easiest way to avoid being excluded at the procurement stage is to hold it before you need it.
Certification starts from £320 + VAT for micro organisations (0-9 employees), up to £600 + VAT for large organisations (250+ employees). The IASME certification fee is included in all prices - no hidden charges, no add-ons. Cyber Essentials Plus starts from £1,195 + VAT. Use the quote builder to get a fixed price for your size and any bundle combinations.
Yes. Cyber Essentials is a mandatory prerequisite for DCC Level 0 - you cannot begin a DCC assessment without it. Your CE certificate must be current and cover the same scope as your intended DCC assessment. A scope misalignment between the two is an automatic assessment failure. Standard Cyber Essentials is required - not Cyber Essentials Plus. If you need both, we can manage them as a single engagement.
A virtual CISO (vCISO) is a part-time security lead retained on a fixed monthly fee - giving you senior security expertise without the cost of a full-time hire. Our vCISO plans cover CE and CE+ recertification management, security policy maintenance, continuous patch and vulnerability monitoring, and advisory support for tenders and questionnaires. It suits businesses that have achieved certification and want to stay secure, or those starting out who want guided support from day one. Plans start from £195/month + VAT. See vCISO plans →
// Free Resources

NOT SURE IF YOU'RE READY?

Use our free readiness checklists to see exactly where you stand - before you commit to certification.

Cyber Essentials - 25 items

CE READINESS CHECKLIST

All five controls, 25 items, updated for v3.3 Danzell. Know your gaps before your assessor does.

Get Free Checklist →

Cyber Essentials Plus - 25 items

CE PLUS READINESS CHECKLIST

All seven audit areas covered - AV, patching, MFA, mobile devices and more. Prepare for the technical audit.

Get Free Checklist →

DCC Level 0 - 6 sub-controls

DCC LEVEL 0 READINESS CHECKLIST

6 sub-controls, updated for CSM v4. Confirm your documents are ready before your MOD DCC assessment begins.

Get Free Checklist →
// Blog & Guides

LATEST INSIGHTS

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READY TO GET
CERTIFIED?

Talk to our UK-based team today. No jargon, no hard sell - just clear, practical cyber security guidance.

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