Celebrating Our Cyber Essentials Certification

Jan 21 / Matt Dowling

Strengthening Cyber Security Practice and Professional Skills

We are pleased to confirm that Duco Digital Training has been awarded Cyber Essentials certification, a UK Government-backed scheme that demonstrates our commitment to implementing essential cyber security controls and protecting data, systems, learners and partners.

Cyber Essentials defines a baseline standard of cyber security designed to help organisations guard against the most common internet-based attacks. Certification confirms that an organisation has appropriate measures in place across five key technical control areas, including secure configuration, access control, malware protection, patch management, and boundary firewalls.

The Role of the NCSC and IASME

Cyber Essentials is supported by the UK Government and technically overseen by the National Cyber Security Centre(NCSC). The NCSC defines the requirements and publishes authoritative guidance to help organisations understand and apply the scheme correctly, including how Cyber Essentials supports stronger supply-chain resilience.

The scheme itself is delivered and managed by the IASME Consortium, the official Cyber Essentials delivery partner. IASME operates the certification platform and licenses accredited Certification Bodies who assess organisations and issue Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus certificates. This clear separation ensures consistency, independence and trust across the scheme.

Why Cyber Essentials Matters

Cyber Essentials has become a widely recognised benchmark across the UK economy. It is increasingly expected by:

  • Public sector bodies and government contracts

  • Organisations operating within regulated or data-sensitive environments

  • Supply chains seeking assurance that partners meet minimum cyber security standards

For organisations like ours, certification demonstrates that cyber security is not an afterthought, but a core operational responsibility embedded into everyday digital practice.

Connecting Certification to Professional Learning

As a BCS-accredited training provider, our Cyber Essentials certification directly complements the professional education we deliver. Many of the principles assessed through Cyber Essentials align closely with the knowledge and competencies developed through our courses with the BCS.

Relevant learning pathways include:

  • Information Security Management — understanding confidentiality, integrity, availability, risk and governance, all of which underpin the Cyber Essentials controls.

  • Security Architecture and Design — applying secure-by-design thinking to systems, networks and services beyond baseline compliance.

  • Data Protection and Digital Ethics — recognising the relationship between cyber security, lawful data handling and responsible technology use.

By teaching these subjects alongside recognised industry standards, we help learners understand not just what controls are required, but why they matter in real organisational contexts.

Value for Learners and Industry Professionals

For learners, Cyber Essentials provides an accessible and practical reference point for understanding cyber risk at an organisational level. For employers and professionals, it reinforces the importance of foundational controls as part of a broader cyber security and risk-management strategy.

Our certification supports:

  • Credibility and trust with learners, partners and stakeholders

  • Industry relevance, aligned with national guidance and professional standards

  • Career readiness, helping learners develop skills that employers increasingly expect as standard

Looking Ahead

Cyber security is an evolving discipline, but strong fundamentals remain essential. Achieving Cyber Essentials certification reflects our commitment to maintaining those fundamentals while continuing to develop high-quality, professionally aligned training.

We will continue to align our courses, practices and organisational standards with recognised frameworks from the NCSC, IASME and BCS — ensuring that both our operations and our learners are prepared for the realities of today’s digital landscape.

If you are looking to strengthen your cyber, digital or information security capability, explore our BCS-accredited courses to develop practical, industry-recognised skills aligned with national cyber security standards.

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