Cyber Essentials

A UK government-backed certification showing a firm has basic cyber security controls in place. Many UK government contracts that handle personal data or IT systems require it.

Also called: Cyber Essentials Plus

Related terms

ISO/IEC 27001

The international standard for information security management. Certification by an accredited auditor is a common mandatory requirement for cloud, data and managed-service tenders.

Security clearance

Government approval for a firm or its staff to access classified or sensitive information. In Canada the Contract Security Program issues organization and personnel clearances; they take months, so start early.