International Business Achieves Cyber Essentials Plus to Access the UK MoD Supply Chain
Industry
Manufacturing
Company Size
50 employees
Duration
3 weeks
Client Background
A Scandinavian technology manufacturer producing commercial equipment with military applications wanted to expand into the UK Defence market. As part of the tender process, the Ministry of Defence required the business to achieve Cyber Essentials Plus (CE+) certification before any sensitive information could be shared.
The Challenge
With around 50 employees and a mixed technology environment spanning Windows, macOS, and Linux, the client faced several challenges. First, Cyber Essentials is a uniquely UK framework, so the concepts, terminology, and assurance process needed careful explanation. Second, the timeline was tight…CE+ certification had to be completed before a bid submission deadline. Finally, vulnerability management was a known weakness within the business, one of the core technical controls required for CE compliance.
On top of that, language and cultural differences required clear, patient communication to ensure that technical details were understood and implemented correctly without slowing progress.
Our Approach
Dalton Cyber worked closely with the client to deliver certification at pace while maintaining quality and rigour. We began by explaining Cyber Essentials in plain terms, making sure all requirements were understood and aligned to the client’s existing controls. Recognising the tight deadline, we flexed our schedule to meet their timescales and provided hands-on support throughout.
Beyond achieving compliance, we added lasting value by helping the client implement an effective vulnerability scanning and patch management process, strengthening their security posture well beyond the minimum requirements.
Throughout the engagement, we focused on clarity and collaboration, supporting the team with patience and professionalism while ensuring nothing was lost in translation.
The Outcome
The client successfully achieved Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus certification in time to submit their MoD bid, and did so with genuine compliance, not just a box-ticking exercise. They also left the process with improved understanding of vulnerability management and a stronger, more proactive approach to patching across their systems.
Lessons Learned
• Regular patching and vulnerability management are vital. Doing this once a year for CE isn’t enough. • Threat actors move fast to exploit new weaknesses, so scanning and remediation should be part of routine operations. • International businesses can meet UK requirements smoothly with clear communication and a structured approach.
What the Client Said
“Thank you for excellently guiding us through the whole process. You made it very easy. It has been a pleasure to work with you. We have learned a lot and are left with more than just the CE certificate. We are very happy with your service and proud to be your first Scandinavian customer. I believe it is natural for us to prefer and let Dalton Cyber linger in our considerations for future potential collaboration.”
Want to achieve Cyber Essentials or strengthen your vulnerability management processes? Explore our services below: