Cyber Essentials, decoded. Know where you stand before anyone asks.
Cyber Essentials is the UK government-backed scheme, run by the NCSC with IASME, that sets out the basic technical controls every organisation should have in place. This free quiz checks your business against the latest requirements (v3.3, known as Danzell) so you know where you stand before a tender, an insurer or a client asks.
Cyber Essentials in Sussex: ABCOM is based in Burgess Hill and helps businesses and charities across Sussex, including Brighton and Hove, Crawley, Haywards Heath and Horsham, get ready for Cyber Essentials. As an NCSC Assured Service Provider we can take you from this quiz to certification. Read our Cyber Essentials certification guide or see IT support in Burgess Hill, Brighton and Crawley.
The five controls the quiz checks
Firewalls
Block unwanted traffic in and out of your network.
Secure configuration
Remove defaults, unused software and weak settings.
User access control
Right people, right access, MFA on cloud services.
Malware protection
Stop malicious software before it runs.
Security updates
Fix critical and high-risk flaws within 14 days.
It also covers scope, backups and staff awareness, and flags the two automatic-fail risks under v3.3:
Multi-factor authentication not switched on for every cloud service that offers it.
Critical and high-risk (CVSS 7 or above) security updates not installed within 14 days.
Cyber Essentials quiz: frequently asked questions
What is the Cyber Essentials readiness quiz?
A free, 4-minute self-check with 12 questions based on the NCSC Cyber Essentials Requirements for IT Infrastructure v3.3. You answer Yes, Partly or No and get a score out of 24, your top three priorities and any automatic-fail risks. Nothing you enter is stored or sent.
What are the five Cyber Essentials controls?
Firewalls, secure configuration, user access control, malware protection and security update management. The quiz also covers scope, plus backups and staff awareness as good practice.
What causes an automatic fail in Cyber Essentials?
Under the v3.3 requirements, two common causes are not using multi-factor authentication on every cloud service that offers it, and not installing critical and high-risk (CVSS 7 or above) security updates within 14 days of release.
Does this quiz certify my business?
No. It is an indicative self-check, not an assessment. Certification is carried out through an official Cyber Essentials certification body. ABCOM can run a free 30-minute readiness check and guide you through the process.
Who should take Cyber Essentials?
Any UK organisation that handles customer data or wants to reduce common cyber risks. Cyber Essentials is often requested in tenders, by clients and by cyber insurers.
Who is ABCOM IT Solutions?
A Burgess Hill, West Sussex managed IT and cyber security provider, trading since 1996 and an NCSC Assured Service Provider, supporting businesses and charities across Sussex, Surrey, Kent and London.
Next steps: read our guide to Cyber Essentials certification, see our cyber security services, or book a free 30-minute readiness check with ABCOM, an NCSC Assured Service Provider in Burgess Hill, West Sussex. This quiz is an indicative self-check, not a certification.
Written by ABCOM IT Solutions. Based on the NCSC Cyber Essentials Requirements for IT Infrastructure v3.3. Last reviewed October 2026.