Check the four-year certification rule, your organisation size and the funding terms before registering; allow time and budget to put the required controls in place.
THE SOURCED NEWS
Check the eligibility before you start
The government announced the Cyber Essentials First Step Fund on 3 November 2026. The 75% discount is for eligible UK micro, small and medium organisations applying for a new certificate. The government says the offer is first come, first served and runs to the end of March 2027 or until the funding runs out.
The government announcement gives discounted assessment prices of £80 to £125 plus VAT, depending on organisation size. Eligibility includes not having held Cyber Essentials certification in the previous four years. The application checks organisation details and funding rules; a discounted assessment does not guarantee certification.
A separate Cyber Resilience Pledge grant offers selected suppliers full funding and tailored Cyber Advisor support. Eligible suppliers are nominated by participating pledge signatories; it is a different route from the general 75% discount.
SELLERBUNDLE PRACTICAL ANALYSIS
SellerBundle: prepare before you pay
List the systems used to trade: email, marketplace and shop accounts, order-processing devices and shared files. Confirm who manages updates, access and backups. Never put passwords, recovery codes or customer information in a general checklist.
Ask your IT support what work is needed to meet the five controls and what that preparation will cost. Check eligibility and remaining funding through the official government announcement before paying, and leave time to make changes before completing the assessment.
GO TO THE ORIGINAL
Check the sources.
UK Government: Cyber Essentials support, published 3 November 2026 ↗
Published 3 Nov 2026
This is an original SellerBundle explanation with practical editorial suggestions. Check current official terms and suitability before changing your business processes.