We’re proud to announce that Sitecrafter has achieved Cyber Essentials certification – a UK government-backed cybersecurity standard that demonstrates we have the right protections in place to keep our clients’ websites and data secure.
You can verify our certification here.
What is Cyber Essentials?
Cyber Essentials is a certification scheme developed by the UK government’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). It’s designed to help organisations of all sizes demonstrate that they have solid, practical defences against the most common forms of cyber attack – things like phishing, malware, ransomware, and unauthorised access to systems.
To achieve certification, organisations must pass an independent assessment covering five core security controls:
- Firewalls – ensuring all devices and networks are protected at the boundary
- Secure configuration – making sure systems are set up safely and unnecessary software is removed
- User access control – ensuring only the right people have access to the right systems, with strong authentication in place
- Malware protection – actively defending against malicious software across all devices
- Security update management – keeping all software and systems patched and up to date
It’s a rigorous process and one we’re genuinely proud to have passed.
Why does this matter for your business?
If Sitecrafter manages your website, you’re trusting us with something important to your business. Cyber Essentials certification is our commitment – independently verified – that we take that responsibility seriously.
For businesses in Harrogate, Yorkshire, and beyond, cyber threats are a very real concern. The NCSC estimates that the majority of cyber attacks on UK businesses could be prevented by getting the basics right. Cyber Essentials is built around exactly those basics.
Working with a certified supplier also helps strengthen your own security posture. If you work with clients who require supply chain security assurances, or if you’re considering your own Cyber Essentials application, knowing that your web agency is already certified is one less thing to worry about.
What this means in practice
Achieving Cyber Essentials certification involved a thorough review and formal assessment of our entire infrastructure and working practices, including:
- The server that hosts your website (a hardened Linux VPS with active malware scanning, automated security updates, and Cloudflare protection)
- The devices and software we use day to day (all running current, supported operating systems with multi-factor authentication and real-time malware protection)
- How we manage access to systems and services (separate admin and standard accounts, strong unique passwords, MFA across all cloud services)
- How we handle software updates (automatic updates enabled across all systems, with a documented process for applying critical patches within 14 days of release)
The certification also requires us to maintain these standards on an ongoing basis, not just at the point of assessment.
Supporting Harrogate and Yorkshire businesses with security in mind
Sitecrafter works with businesses across Harrogate, North Yorkshire, and beyond – from local hospitality and country sports businesses to professional services firms and e-commerce retailers. Cyber Essentials certification is part of our broader commitment to providing a professional, trustworthy managed web service that our clients can rely on.
If you’d like to know more about how we keep your website secure, or if you’re thinking about pursuing Cyber Essentials certification for your own business, feel free to get in touch.
Sitecrafter is a Harrogate-based web design and WordPress agency providing website design, development, hosting, and ongoing care plans for businesses across North Yorkshire and the UK. View our Cyber Essentials certificate.
