7 October 2026 · Glasgow · Edinburgh

The five Cyber Essentials controls, explained for Scottish businesses

Cyber Essentials is built around five controls. Together they protect against the most common online attacks.

1. Firewalls and internet gateways: control what can get in and out of your network.
2. Secure settings: remove default passwords and switch off what you do not use.
3. User access control: give people only the access they need.
4. Malware protection: stop harmful software before it runs.
5. Patch management: keep software and devices up to date.

Cyber Essentials Plus adds an independent technical check. See our Cyber Essentials page for how we help you get certified.

Local pages: cyber security Glasgow and cyber security Edinburgh. For day-to-day incidents, there is the IT Security Desk. Tell us whether you need Essentials or Plus.

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