If you are considering Cyber Essentials certification for your business, cost is usually one of the first questions. The honest answer is that it depends on the size of your organisation, which certification tier you are applying for, and whether you use an accredited certification body to guide you through the process or attempt it alone.
This guide breaks down the real cost of Cyber Essentials certification in 2026 — including what is included in the fee, what is not, and why businesses that work with an accredited body like TekXera typically achieve certification faster and with fewer failed submissions.
What Is Cyber Essentials?
Cyber Essentials is a UK Government-backed cybersecurity certification scheme, managed by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). It demonstrates that your organisation has implemented the five fundamental technical controls that protect against the most common cyber threats: firewalls, secure configuration, user access control, malware protection, and patch management.
There are two levels of certification:
• Cyber Essentials — a self-assessment questionnaire verified by an accredited certification body
• Cyber Essentials Plus — all of the above, plus an independent technical audit of your systems
Cyber Essentials Certification Costs in 2026
The certification fee is set by IASME (the scheme’s delivery partner) and varies by organisation size:
| Organisation Size | CE Fee | CE Plus Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Micro (1-9 employees) | £300 + VAT | £400-600 + VAT |
| Small (10-49 employees) | £400 + VAT | £600-900 + VAT |
| Medium (50-249 employees) | £450 + VAT | £900-1,500 + VAT |
| Large (250+ employees) | £500 + VAT | £1,500-2,500 + VAT |
💡 These are the IASME certification fees only. Most businesses also need 2–6 weeks of remediation work before they are ready to apply — particularly around MFA enforcement, patching, and firewall rules. A managed certification service bundles this into a fixed fee.
What Is Not Included in the Certification Fee?
The certification fee covers the assessment and certificate only. It does not cover:
• Remediation work — fixing the gaps in your current security posture before you are ready to apply
• Technical support during the questionnaire — working through the five controls with your IT team
• Staff awareness training — which is now increasingly expected by assessors
• Re-assessment if you fail first time — which happens to approximately 30% of self-managed applicants
This is why many businesses choose to work with an accredited certification body rather than applying directly. TekXera manages the entire process — assessment, remediation, submission, and verification — under a fixed-price managed certification package.
How Long Does Cyber Essentials Certification Take?
For a well-prepared organisation, Cyber Essentials can be achieved in as little as 2–4 weeks. For businesses that need remediation first, the typical timeline is 4–8 weeks for CE and 8–12 weeks for CE Plus.
TekXera typically completes managed Cyber Essentials certifications for medium-sized businesses (50–250 employees) within 4–6 weeks from initial assessment to certificate.
Who Needs Cyber Essentials?
Cyber Essentials is mandatory for businesses bidding on UK Government contracts that involve the handling of personal data or require network security. It is also increasingly required by cyber insurance providers and enterprise clients as a baseline supplier assurance requirement.
Even where it is not mandatory, Cyber Essentials certification signals to clients, insurers and partners that your business has implemented fundamental protections against the most common attack vectors — which account for over 80% of cyber incidents in the UK.
Ready to Get Certified?
TekXera is an accredited IASME and Cyber Essentials certification body serving businesses across the UK. We offer a managed end-to-end certification service with a fixed price, a dedicated assessor, and a commitment to getting you certified first time.
Book a free 30-minute consultation with our cybersecurity team to find out where your business currently stands and what is needed to achieve certification.
