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Advanced Cyber Essentials Plus Certification
In a world of increasingly complex online threats, comprehensive cyber security is becoming less of a luxury, and more of a baseline requirement. Cyber Essentials is a UK government-backed scheme designed to protect organisations against the most common cyber threats, with proven strategies to improve resilience for London businesses.
Based 40 miles from the City and serving the London business community for over 30 years, Sota is an official Cyber Essentials Assessment Centre. We provide the consultation, technical roadmap, and independent infrastructure required to secure your London-based operations, and prove your resilience to clients and investors alike.
Discuss your Cyber Essentials requirements today
Our Managed Services
A complete solution for digital transformation
Capital cyber resilience
Sota’s expansion into London was driven by a commitment to high-security infrastructure. As an independent network operator, we host our own secure data centre campus just 40 miles from London, which is audited to ISO 27001 and PCI DSS standards. This approach allows us to provide London firms with hard guarantees on cyber security, hosting and protecting your data within our own resilient environment.
Our facilities serve more than 500 organisations, providing a secure backbone for London companies ranging from insurance leaders to major charitable institutions. By achieving Cyber Essentials accreditation through Sota, you’re aligning with a high security and high availability provider, ensuring your operations stay secure and online 24/7.
Expert cyber essentials consultancy in London
Our accreditation services help secure your business, and elevate your commercial standing in London. We offer a responsive, local presence for London firms looking for a trusted strategic security partner.
Situated just an hour from the City, our consultants can be on-site at your London premises to conduct the rigorous technical audits required for Cyber Essentials Plus. As an authorised Cyber Essentials Assessment Centre, we can guide London businesses through both levels of the scheme:
- Cyber Essentials (Verified Self-Assessment): We help you navigate the requirements for firewalls, secure configuration, user access control, malware protection, and patch management, ensuring your London office’s self-assessment is accurate and compliant.
- Cyber Essentials Plus (Technical Audit): This is the highest level of certification, often mandated for London firms bidding on government or enterprise contracts. It involves a hands-on technical verification where our specialists conduct vulnerability scans and system tests, helping to prove that your protections are working in practice.
- SotaProtect integration: As well as helping you pass the test, we can provide ongoing Managed Detection and Response (MDR) and 24/7 SOC monitoring, helping to maintain your security posture long after the certificate is issued.
Tried, tested and trusted
Great cyber security can be a competitive advantage for London businesses. Many local government contracts and global supply chain tenders now mandate Cyber Essentials or Cyber Essentials Plus as a prerequisite for bidding. We’ll work with you to identify gaps in your London team’s human firewall and technical stack, providing the training and tools needed to bridge those gaps effectively.
Our consultancy is grounded in the reality of modern London workplaces. We ensure your Microsoft 365 environment, remote access protocols for hybrid teams, and cloud hosting are all aligned with the latest National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) standards. By choosing Sota, you’re teaming with an official assessor that understands the needs of London businesses, significantly reducing the time and costs of compliance.
Proven success stories
Discover how Sota has helped London businesses achieve elite security standards:
View allA total security ecosystem for London
We pride ourselves on offering a 360-degree approach to cyber resilience for the London market. By integrating our consultancy with our broader technical suite, we can ensure your business remains secure from every angle. Our services include:
- Cyber security training: Managed awareness programs to help your London staff recognise emerging AI-generated phishing and social engineering attacks.
- Vulnerability management: Regular scanning of your independent fibre connectivity and internal networks, identifying and patching weaknesses before they are exploited.
- SotaCloud backup: Immutable, off-site data protection hosted in our secure Kent data centres, ensuring your London firm can recover even if a breach occurs.
- Workplace recovery: Access to 100-seat standby office suites at our Kent Science Park facility, a vital continuity option for London businesses.
Our scalable services and short-term contracts are a testament to the trust we build with our clients. We offer a transparent, professional alternative to the automated audits found elsewhere, providing real-world expertise to London’s business leaders.
Unparalleled technical expertise
With 35 years of experience providing IT services in London, the knowledge of our security team is unmatched. Sota is proud to be Cyber Essentials certified and a registered Crown Commercial Service Provider, reflecting the high standards we maintain for our own 25-acre technology campus.
Our operations are independently audited to meet ISO 27001, PCI DSS, and Cyber Essentials Plus standards. When you choose Sota for Cyber Essentials consultancy in London, you’re benefitting from decades of collective experience—keeping your London business informed, compliant, and ready to face an evolving digital landscape.
Discuss your Cyber Essentials requirements today
Cyber Essentials Consultancy London FAQs
What is the main difference between Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus?
Cyber Essentials is a verified self-assessment, whereas Cyber Essentials Plus involves a rigorous technical audit by an official assessor such as Sota. For London firms, the Plus version is often considered the ‘gold standard’ as it is commonly required for high-level tenders, and provides a much higher level of assurance to your clients.
How long does the accreditation process take for a London business?
The timeline for Cyber Essentials accreditation depends on your current security posture. For a well-prepared London office, the self-assessment can be completed in just a few days. For Cyber Essentials Plus, we typically conduct a pre-audit gap analysis followed by the formal audit, a process that usually takes 2–4 weeks.
Can Sota help our London office fix the issues found during the audit?
Yes! Unlike many auditors who will simply give you a ‘fail’ grade, Sota is a full-service managed IT provider for London. We can provide the technical solutions (such as firewall management, patch automation, or secure cloud configuration) needed to bring your London premises up to standard.
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Business partnerships and IT industry accreditations
