Ascent Passes Cyber Essentials Plus – A Major Security Milestone
Ineel, Marketing Executive interviews Tabish Alam, CRM Expert at Ascent
Passing Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus is more than a compliance milestone for Ascent – it’s a statement of how we work. As a CRM consultancy working across complex CRM ecosystems, sensitive data environments and high‑trust digital infrastructure, security isn’t a box‑ticking exercise. It’s a standard we hold ourselves to every day.
Cyber Essentials is the UK Government‑backed scheme managed by the National Cyber Security Centre, designed to ensure organisations follow essential security practices across devices, networks and software. Cyber Essentials Plus goes further: it includes an independent technical audit where external specialists test your systems, processes and controls in real-world conditions. It’s harder to achieve, and it’s the certification that separates organisations who say they’re secure from those who can prove it.
What Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus Validate
At its core, Cyber Essentials confirms that an organisation has the right foundations in place: secure devices, controlled access, up‑to‑date operating systems, patched vulnerabilities and protected networks. Cyber Essentials Plus validates that these controls actually work in practice.
For Ascent, this means:
- Device security across every workstation
- Controlled access so users only reach what they should
- Continuous patching against known vulnerabilities
- Protected environments with modern controls
- Independent verification through external testing
This is the baseline of a secure consultancy. And now, it’s formally recognised.
Why This Matters for Our Clients
Many of the organisations we work with, from public sector bodies to enterprise‑grade businesses, are increasingly security‑conscious. They need partners who treat their data with the same seriousness they do. Cyber Essentials Plus is often a mandatory requirement for tenders, especially across the NHS, government departments and regulated industries.
Without it, you’re not even considered. With it, you’re trusted.
This certification gives clients confidence that Ascent meets the security standards required to handle sensitive information, deliver technical projects and integrate deeply into their digital operations. It also gives us a clear advantage over competitors who haven’t achieved it – especially in competitive tender environments where security credentials are a deciding factor.
Strengthening Our Own Security Posture
Cyber Essentials Plus isn’t just about external trust. It strengthens our internal security discipline too. The certification process ensures we stay ahead of emerging threats, maintain robust incident‑response processes and keep every system protected against the latest threats that are circulating.
Our certification ensures that:
- Our systems remain protected
- Our processes remain current
- Our team remains security‑aware
- Our operations remain resilient
For a CRM consultancy working across multiple platforms, cloud ecosystems and integrated data environments, this matters.
Alongside HIPAA: A Broader Security Commitment
Cyber Essentials Plus sits alongside our achievement of HIPAA compliance, further demonstrating our commitment to secure data handling across industries. HIPAA is a US healthcare standard, but its principles of confidentiality and integrity strengthen our global security position. Together, these certifications show that Ascent operates at a high level of security that’s recognised, audited and trusted internationally.
A Milestone We’re Proud Of
Achieving Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus is a significant step for Ascent. It validates the standards we work to, the processes we’ve built and the seriousness with which we treat security. It strengthens our position in tenders, reassures our clients and reflects the level of quality our clients expect.
Most importantly, it reflects who we are: a CRM consultancy that delivers with integrity, operates with discipline, and invests in doing things properly.
If you need a CRM consultancy that treats security as seriously as delivery, speak to our experts today
Book a discovery call with one of our consultants
Email us: info@ascentbusiness.co.uk
Call us: +44 (0) 121 392 8140
About the Authors
Ineel Kler
Growth Marketing Executive
Tabish Alam
Senior Consultant