Overview
- The government launched the 75% discount on Cyber Essentials for eligible micro, small and medium-sized businesses on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, funded by a £2.4 million First Step Fund that runs until March 2027 or until the money is spent.
- The First Step Fund is aimed at firms that have not held Cyber Essentials in the last four years and is expected to help about 6,000 businesses pay as little as £80 to £125 plus VAT for first-time certification.
- Separately, a Cyber Essentials for suppliers grant worth up to £7 million will fund free certification and tailored advisor support for roughly 8,000 SME suppliers nominated by more than 230 organisations that have signed the Cyber Resilience Pledge.
- The government added 14 organisations to its Software Security Ambassadors programme to push the Software Security Code of Practice through supply chains while Budget funding also backs national AI and cyber units such as the NERV Centre (£70m) and a Cyber Shield (£60m).
- Cyber Essentials sets five basic technical controls to stop common internet-based attacks and certified firms with turnover under £20 million can get up to £25,000 in cyber liability cover; the measures aim to reduce SME exposure but the first-come, limited funds mean rapid take-up is likely to determine who benefits.