Protect your Care Home against the most common cyber threats with Cyber Essentials.

Cyber Essentials is a UK government‑backed cyber security certification that helps care homes and other organisations protect themselves against the most common cyber threats by implementing a basic set of essential security controls.

Developed by the experts at the NCSC, the certification scheme is aligned to five technical controls designed to prevent the most common internet based cyber security threats:

Firewalls (or secure network devices) – to protect systems and networks from unauthorised access.

Secure Configuration – ensures devices and systems are securely configured, with unnecessary software, services, and accounts removed or disabled.

User Access Control – control who has access to data and systems, applying the principle of least privilege and preventing unauthorised or excessive user permissions.

Malware Protection – protect systems against malware using anti‑malware software or application allow‑listing where appropriate.

Patch Management – keep operating systems, applications, and devices up to date with security patches to protect against known vulnerabilities.

When a UK-domiciled organisation with a turnover under £20m achieves self-assessed certification covering their whole organisation to Cyber Essentials, they are entitled to Cyber Liability Insurance. Here’s a summary of the policy and an FAQ about the insurance (we always advise care homes and groups to seek guidance from their insurance broker to ensure the coverage meets their specific needs).

GHM Care can guide your care home or group through the whole Cyber Essentials process from assessing your needs, filling out the forms, ensuring you’re compliant and gaining your certification. Support is available on a flexible module basis depending on your needs and skills.