Cyber Essentials Renewal Boosts Customer Confidence

Presymptom Health is a UK based SME in the life sciences space that has recently undergone organisational changes, including a change of leadership and new employees. As part of their commitment to cybersecurity and to give greater confidence to their customers, they needed to renew their Cyber Essentials certification.

“We are delighted to have renewed our Cyber Essentials certification with the expert support of Kriston Technology Limited. Their thorough, proactive approach ensured a smooth renewal process and gave us full confidence that our systems remain protected against cyber threats. Cyber Essentials is critical for safeguarding our data and reassuring our clients and partners that we are committed to the highest standards of cybersecurity. Thank you to the Kriston Technology team for their professionalism and guidance in helping us maintain this essential accreditation “

CEO

In today’s life sciences industry, demonstrating strong cyber security practices is not just a regulatory requirement but a business necessity. Presymptom faced two primary drivers for their Cyber Essentials renewal:

1. Company Restructure: After a company restructure, Presymptom needed to ensure its security controls remained effective against evolving threats.
   
   
2. Customer Confidence: Presymptom needed to demonstrate their commitment to cyber security to instil confidence in their customers and partners.

The Cyber Essentials certification, backed by the UK Government’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), provides a framework for organisations to protect themselves against common cyber threats. For Presymptom, maintaining this certification was crucial for both operational security and business development.

Kriston Technology Limited implemented a systematic four-stage approach to ensure a successful Cyber Essentials renewal for Presymptom:

1. Initial Consultation

Our cyber security specialists conducted a thorough initial consultation with Presymptom’s management team to understand their specific business requirements and any changes to their IT infrastructure since their last certification. This consultation helped identify key areas of focus for the renewal process.

2. Comprehensive Assessment

We performed a detailed assessment of Presymptom’s current security settings against the five technical control areas required by Cyber Essentials:

• Secure Configuration: Reviewing how systems were configured to minimize security vulnerabilities
• User Access Control: Assessing how user privileges were managed and controlled
• Malware Protection: Evaluating anti-malware solutions and practices
• Security Update Management: Checking patch management processes for all systems
• Firewalls and Internet Gateways: Reviewing network security controls

This assessment identified areas where security controls could be strengthened to align with current best practices and Cyber Essentials requirements.

3. Implementation of Security Enhancements

Based on the assessment findings, our team worked with Presymptom to implement necessary security enhancements:

• Updated access control policies to ensure the principle of least privilege
• Refined patch management procedures to ensure timely application of security updates
• Enhanced firewall configurations to better protect sensitive research data
• Improved security settings across all endpoints and network devices
• Strengthened password policies and multi-factor authentication implementation

These enhancements were implemented with minimal disruption to Presymptom’s daily operations, ensuring business continuity throughout the process.

4. Documentation and Submission

Our team prepared comprehensive documentation of Presymptom’s security controls and completed the Cyber Essentials self-assessment questionnaire. We ensured all responses were accurate and supported by evidence, facilitating a smooth certification process.

The successful renewal of Presymptom’s Cyber Essentials certification delivered several significant benefits:

1. Enhanced Security Posture

The renewal process identified and addressed potential security gaps, strengthening Presymptom’s overall security posture. By implementing current best practices across all five control areas, Presymptom is now better protected against common cyber threats that target life sciences companies.

2. Increased Customer Confidence

The renewed certification provides tangible evidence of Presymptom’s commitment to cyber security, enhancing customer confidence in their ability to protect sensitive data. This has strengthened relationships with existing clients and opened doors to new business opportunities where security credentials are a prerequisite.

3. Competitive Advantage

In the life sciences industry, where data security is paramount, having a current Cyber Essentials certification gives Presymptom a competitive advantage.

4. Regulatory Alignment

The renewal process ensured Presymptom remains aligned with industry regulations and standards and reducing compliance risks.

5. Foundation for Advanced Security

The renewed Cyber Essentials certification provides a solid foundation upon which Presymptom can build more advanced security measures as their business grows and evolves.

The successful renewal of Presymptom’s Cyber Essentials certification demonstrates how small life science companies can achieve robust cyber security practices with the right expertise and approach. By partnering with Kriston Technology Limited, Presymptom not only maintained their certification but also strengthened their security controls and enhanced customer confidence in their business.

For life science companies looking to improve their security posture and demonstrate their commitment to cybersecurity, Cyber Essentials certification provides a government-backed framework that addresses the most common threats. As Presymptom’s experience shows, the renewal process is an opportunity not just for recertification but for comprehensive security enhancement.

“I’m so pleased for Presymptom’s Cyber Essential certification renewal, not only have they reaffirmed thier commitment to cyber security, but it was a great opportunity to work with Nadia and her team and strengthen our IT partnership with Presymptom.”  

Technical Director