Accreditation / PQ register
Cyber Essentials (CE)
Also known as CE, Cyber Essentials Plus.
The government-backed cyber baseline. Mandatory for central government contracts handling personal or sensitive data.
Visit ncsc.gov.ukOpens in a new tab. We are not affiliated with NCSC / IASME.
Who uses it
Central government, MOD supply chain, NHS, increasingly local government.
Getting registered
Self-assessment through a certification body for basic; independent technical audit for Plus.
All four UK portals in one email
Find a Tender, Contracts Finder, Public Contracts Scotland and Sell2Wales, read every weekday and scored against what you do, in one email before 9am. You only register on a buyer's platform when a tender is worth bidding for. 30 days free, no card needed.
Watch out for
Annual expiry, and a lapsed certificate is an instant fail on many bids. Renewal takes weeks if remediation is needed.
Tender Radar tracks the contracts that require accreditations like this, so you know whether it is worth the annual fee before you pay it. Start a free trial.
At a glance
- Run by
- NCSC / IASME
- Type
- Accreditation / PQ register
- Covers
- UK-wide
- Sectors
- All
- Cost
- Paid - annual, from a few hundred pounds; Plus requires an audit
- Website
- ncsc.gov.uk
Last reviewed 2026-09-14. Something wrong on this page?
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