East Midlands Cyber Security Cluster has gained Cyber Essentials certification.

Cyber Essentials is a UK government-backed scheme providing organisations with a framework to protect against common online cyber attacks. 

It involves implementing basic technical controls in five key areas: firewalls, secure configuration, access control, malware protection, and patch management.

The scheme offers two levels of certification, a self-assessed basic standard, and the more in-depth Cyber Essentials Plus, which includes external verification.

CE helps organisations demonstrate a minimum level of cyber security to customers and meet requirements for government contracts. 

The certificate was awarded on 2 September 2025 following a review led by Leicester-based Kit365. Rob Kneller, CEO of Kit365, is also a Director of East Midlands Cyber Security Cluster.

Dr Ismini Vasileiou, founder of East Midlands Cyber Security Cluster, said: “Cyber Essentials protects against common threats, helping organisations mitigate the risk of being targeted by basic cyber attacks, such as those involving malware, ransomware, and phishing. 

“By working with the KIT365 team to build this secure foundation, EMCSC is joining more than 215,000 businesses, charities, schools, and local authorities which now have CE certification.”

The Cyber Essentials scheme was developed by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and is administered by the IASME Consortium.

East Midlands Cyber Security Cluster strengthens regional digital safety by organising events, sharing best practice, and providing education programmes to businesses, particularly SMEs lacking in-house cyber teams. 

Its purpose is to boost regional collaboration, address the digital skills shortage, and promote the area’s cyber expertise and innovation on a national level to support economic growth.