Cyber Essentials for charities
Charities hold donor data, beneficiary records and sometimes safeguarding information, usually on a fraction of a corporate budget. We don’t think cost should be the reason a good cause goes uncertified.
At a glance
- Our standard packages, with 5% off the Supported Service when you request a quote
- Marking Only at our standard price
- Plus our Charity Special Offer: free support for registered charities turning over less than £2m
Why charities certify
Funders and commissioners ask
Grant funders, local authorities and commissioning bodies increasingly expect evidence that the organisations they fund protect personal data.
Volunteers and shared devices
Volunteers, shared laptops and free cloud tools make security harder to manage. Cyber Essentials gives you a clear checklist to work through.
Reassurance for supporters
A current certificate shows donors and beneficiaries that you take the safety of their information seriously.
Free Cyber Essentials support for small charities
This is a special offer, separate from our standard packages below.
Every October, IASME and the NCSC run Charity Cyber Security Awareness Month, when registered charities can receive free guidance and a discount on Cyber Essentials through participating certification bodies. At Get Cyber Certified, we think charities deserve that support all year round.
So for registered charities turning over less than £2m, we offer our Supported Service free of charge. You pay only the Marking Only fee.
Free support, pay only for marking
- Your own assigned senior assessor
- Readiness check and gap analysis before anything is submitted
- Unlimited remote support for every question
- Cyber Essentials report and certificate
Open to registered charities turning over less than £2m a year.
Apply for the Charity Special OfferWe support one charity at a time through this offer. When you apply, we’ll let you know whether the place is available now or when it will be.
Apply for the Charity Special Offer
For registered charities with an annual turnover under £2m: our Supported Service is free and you pay only the Marking Only fee. We support one charity at a time through this offer, and we'll let you know whether the place is available now or when it will be.
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Where charities commonly trip up
These are the issues we see most often when marking assessments, so you can deal with them before you submit.
- Free and donated cloud tools. Donated Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, fundraising platforms, CRMs and mailing tools all hold charity data, so they’re in scope and need MFA where it’s offered.
- Volunteer and trustee devices. Personal devices used for charity email or files are in scope. A simple BYOD approach and supported operating systems make this manageable.
- Admin accounts used every day. Using an administrator account for day-to-day work is a common failure point. Keep separate admin and everyday accounts.
Two ways to get certified
Our packages are the same for charities as for every organisation. Request a quote for the Supported Service and we’ll apply a 5% charity discount; purchases made directly through our website are at the standard price. Marking Only is at our standard price. Small charities may also be eligible for our Charity Special Offer above.
For confident, well-prepared teams
Ideal if you have in-house expertise and have already checked your setup against the requirements.
- Your own secure assessment portal
- Independent marking with a feedback report
- Two working days to fix any non-compliances, then a complimentary re-mark
- Cyber Essentials report and certificate included
Cyber liability insurance is subject to IASME’s terms. Certifying more than one organisation? Define each additional organisation within your assessment and you’ll automatically be asked whether you’d like a duplicate certificate.
Buy Marking OnlyA senior assessor with you all the way
The right choice for most organisations, and for anyone working to a deadline.
- Your own assigned senior assessor
- Readiness check and gap analysis before anything is submitted
- Feedback within 24 working hours, with same-day assessments available subject to T&C’s
- Unlimited remote support for every question
- As many attempts as you need within the six-month assessment window
- Cyber Essentials report and certificate included
For our Supported Service: 100% of applicants who have followed our advice and who have submitted within the required deadlines have passed. Cyber liability insurance is subject to IASME’s terms. Certifying more than one organisation? Define each additional organisation within your assessment and you’ll automatically be asked whether you’d like a duplicate certificate.
Buy SupportedPrices are “from” prices, exclude VAT and depend on organisation size; your exact price is shown in our shop. Free cyber liability insurance is available to eligible organisations (IASME terms apply).
Guidance for charities
Practical articles from our assessors in the Resource Hub.
“Our experience with Get Cyber Certified has been brilliant, for the second year running. From the onboarding meeting, right through to us achieving our certification, Mark has been really supportive, constructive and helpful.”
Bev · Google reviewCommon questions
Do charities get a discount on your standard packages?
Our packages are the same for charities as for every organisation. If you request a quote for the Supported Service, we’ll apply a 5% charity discount. Purchases made directly through our website are at the standard price, and Marking Only is at our standard price.
What is the Charity Special Offer?
A special offer, separate from our standard packages. Registered charities turning over less than £2m can receive our Supported Service free of charge and pay only the Marking Only fee, from £319 + VAT.
Who can apply for the Charity Special Offer?
Registered charities turning over less than £2m a year. We’ll ask for your charity registration details when you apply.
Is this the same as IASME’s Charity Cyber Security Awareness Month?
IASME’s campaign runs each October and offers registered charities free guidance and a discount on Cyber Essentials through participating certification bodies. Our Charity Special Offer is our own offer, which we run all year round in the same spirit.
More answers in our full FAQs.
Apply for the Charity Special Offer
Tell us about your charity and we’ll get you started with free support from a senior assessor.