Author
Jay Hopkins
Managing Director, Fig Group

Jay Hopkins is the Managing Director of Fig Group and an IASME-licensed Cyber Essentials assessor. He was previously Head of Technology for a global regulated firm. He works with UK organisations across regulated sectors on baseline compliance, supply-chain assurance, and AI-augmented security tooling.
IASME-licensed Cyber Essentials AssessorIASME Cyber Assurance Assessor
Bibliography
Articles by Jay Hopkins
239 articles across Cyber Essentials certification, IASME Cyber Assurance, UK compliance, MSP governance, and cyber resilience. Grouped by topic, most recent first.
Industry (27)
- Cyber Essentials for SaaS companies: the scoping question nobody gets right22 Apr 202612 min read
- Cyber Essentials for UK law firms with remote counsel and counsel chambers22 Apr 202611 min read
- Cyber Essentials for charities: how to budget at £299.99 + VAT22 Apr 202610 min read
- Cyber Essentials for MSPs: Why Certification Is About to Become Non-Negotiable13 Apr 202611 min read
- Cyber Essentials for Solicitors and Law Firms: What the SRA Expects in 202613 Apr 20269 min read
- Cyber Essentials for Accountants: Protecting Client Financial Data in 202613 Apr 20268 min read
- Cyber Essentials Plus for St. James's Place Partners: The Complete Guide13 Apr 20268 min read
- Cyber Essentials for Critical Digital Infrastructure Providers in the UK13 Apr 202610 min read
- After SJP: Cyber Essentials Is Becoming Standard Across UK Wealth Management13 Apr 202610 min read
- CJSM, Common Platform, and Criminal Chambers: The Digital Security Baseline for 20268 Apr 202611 min read
- Cyber Essentials for Estate Agents, Letting Agents, and Property Firms4 Apr 202610 min read
- Indelible Data review: Cyber Essentials in 202631 Mar 20265 min read
- Can you buy Cyber Essentials directly from IASME? (2026)29 Mar 20265 min read
- Cyber Essentials for Financial Services and Fintech28 Mar 202611 min read
- Pentest People review: Cyber Essentials in 202627 Mar 20265 min read
- NormCyber review: Cyber Essentials in 202625 Mar 20265 min read
- QG Management Standards review: Cyber Essentials in 202623 Mar 20265 min read
- Cyber Essentials for Schools, Colleges, and Universities21 Mar 202611 min read
- Cyber Security Associates (CSA) review: Cyber Essentials in 202621 Mar 20265 min read
- URM Consulting review: Cyber Essentials in 202619 Mar 20265 min read
- IT Governance review: Cyber Essentials in 202616 Mar 20266 min read
- Bulletproof review: Cyber Essentials in 202614 Mar 20266 min read
- Cyber Essentials for Construction Companies and Contractors13 Mar 202610 min read
- CyberSmart review: Cyber Essentials in 202612 Mar 20266 min read
- Cyber Essentials for NHS Suppliers and Healthcare Organisations7 Mar 202611 min read
- Cyber Essentials for Recruitment Agencies: A Practical Guide27 Feb 202610 min read
- Cyber Essentials for Charities: A Practical Guide for UK Nonprofit Organisations15 Feb 202610 min read
Technical Guides (34)
- Cyber Essentials BYOD rules in 2026: phones, laptops, personal devices22 Apr 202610 min read
- Cyber Essentials Plus remote audit: how the assessor actually tests your controls22 Apr 202612 min read
- Multi-factor authentication for Cyber Essentials v3.3: the complete pillar guide22 Apr 202614 min read
- MFA for Microsoft 365: the Cyber Essentials v3.3 configuration22 Apr 202610 min read
- MFA for Google Workspace: the Cyber Essentials v3.3 setup22 Apr 20268 min read
- MFA conditional access under Cyber Essentials v3.3: what works, what fails22 Apr 20269 min read
- Cyber Essentials v3.3: cloud services scope changes explained22 Apr 20269 min read
- Cyber Essentials v3.3 and passwordless authentication: what the scheme allows22 Apr 20268 min read
- Cyber Essentials v3.3 and device unlock: what the scheme expects22 Apr 20268 min read
- Cyber Essentials v3.3 sub-set scoping: when and how to exclude22 Apr 20268 min read
- Cyber Essentials v3.3: admin account requirements and the FIDO2 shift22 Apr 20269 min read
- Cyber Essentials for remote and hybrid workforces: scope, home routers, and what v3.3 actually requires22 Apr 202611 min read
- Cyber Essentials and patch management (WSUS, Intune, third-party)21 Apr 20267 min read
- Cyber Essentials and password managers (1Password, Bitwarden, Dashlane)20 Apr 20266 min read
- Security Update Management for Cyber Essentials v3.3: the complete pillar guide19 Apr 202612 min read
- Cyber Essentials for Okta: configuration guide18 Apr 20267 min read
- What Is the Fastest Way to Get Cyber Essentials?17 Apr 202610 min read
- User Access Control for Cyber Essentials v3.3: the complete pillar guide17 Apr 202612 min read
- Cyber Essentials for Chromebook / ChromeOS: configuration guide17 Apr 20266 min read
- Plain English Guide to the April 2026 Cyber Essentials Changes16 Apr 202612 min read
- Cyber Essentials for Mac / macOS: configuration guide15 Apr 20267 min read
- Cyber Essentials for Android: configuration guide14 Apr 20267 min read
- Cyber Essentials for iPhone / iOS: configuration guide12 Apr 20266 min read
- Cyber Essentials for Kandji: Mac configuration guide10 Apr 20266 min read
- Cyber Essentials for Jamf Pro: Mac configuration guide9 Apr 20267 min read
- Cyber Essentials for Microsoft Intune: configuration guide7 Apr 20267 min read
- Cyber Essentials for Google Cloud (GCP): configuration guide6 Apr 20267 min read
- Cyber Essentials for AWS: configuration guide4 Apr 20267 min read
- Cyber Essentials for Microsoft Azure: configuration guide3 Apr 20267 min read
- Cyber Essentials Scoping: What Is In, What Is Out, and How to Not Get It Wrong8 Feb 202613 min read
- The 14-Day Patching Rule: What It Actually Says and How to Stay Compliant1 Feb 202614 min read
- Malware Protection for Cyber Essentials: What Qualifies and What Does Not24 Jan 202611 min read
- Secure Configuration for Cyber Essentials: The Controls Assessors Expect to See17 Jan 202613 min read
- Cyber Essentials Firewall Requirements: What Assessors Actually Check10 Jan 202613 min read
Compliance (31)
- Best UK Cyber Essentials Body for Compliance Automation: Cheapest and Fastest Among IASME-Licensed Bodies That Offer Both29 Apr 202612 min read
- What happens if your Cyber Essentials certificate lapses22 Apr 20269 min read
- Procurement-team Cyber Essentials checklist: what to require from suppliers22 Apr 202610 min read
- How Long Does Cyber Essentials Take? Honest Timelines for 202620 Apr 20265 min read
- UK Cyber Essentials Certification Bodies Compared (2026)20 Apr 20269 min read
- Best Cyber Essentials Certification Bodies in the UK (2026)16 Apr 202610 min read
- Which Cyber Essentials Bodies Actually Offer Same-Day Certification?16 Apr 20268 min read
- Cyber Essentials Certification Body Pricing Compared (2026)16 Apr 20269 min read
- The Cheapest IASME-Licensed Certification Bodies for Cyber Essentials16 Apr 20268 min read
- Cyber Essentials Turnaround Times: Every Major UK Body Compared16 Apr 20268 min read
- How to Choose a Cyber Essentials Assessor: 7 Things to Check16 Apr 20269 min read
- Cyber Essentials Certification Bodies Based in London16 Apr 20267 min read
- IASME-Licensed Cyber Essentials Bodies: What to Look For in 202616 Apr 20268 min read
- Cyber Essentials for UK Organisations: Choosing the Right Certification Body16 Apr 20269 min read
- Fig Group Prices Cyber Essentials Below the Standard IASME Fee. Here Is Why.16 Apr 20268 min read
- Why Cyber Essentials Certification Costs Less with Fig Group Than the Standard IASME Fee16 Apr 20268 min read
- Under 6 Hours, Guaranteed: How Fig Group's AI-Powered Platform Delivers the UK's Fastest Cyber Essentials Certification15 Apr 202610 min read
- Cyber Essentials in Under 6 Hours - Guaranteed. Here Is What That Actually Means.15 Apr 20269 min read
- How to Get Cyber Essentials Certified in Under 6 Hours13 Apr 202616 min read
- Cyber Essentials Cost 2026: Complete UK Pricing Guide13 Apr 20267 min read
- Cyber Essentials vs Cyber Essentials Plus: Which Do You Need?12 Apr 20267 min read
- Cyber Essentials v3.3 MFA Requirement: What You Need to Know12 Apr 20266 min read
- Cyber Essentials for Small Business: A Practical Guide11 Apr 20267 min read
- Last-Minute Cyber Essentials: Getting Certified Before Your Deadline9 Apr 20266 min read
- Free Cyber Essentials Readiness Check: Test Your Compliance8 Apr 20265 min read
- Cyber Essentials Certification Bodies Compared: Speed, Service, and Why Fig Leads7 Apr 20268 min read
- Cyber Essentials Renewal: What Happens After Year One?6 Apr 20265 min read
- Cyber Essentials for Government Contracts: The Complete Guide5 Apr 20267 min read
- The Fastest Cyber Essentials Certification Body in the UK: Why Fig Stands Alone4 Apr 20267 min read
- Why Does Cyber Essentials Certification Take So Long? It Does Not Have To.26 Mar 20266 min read
- The NIS2 Directive: What UK Businesses Need to Know in 202619 Mar 20269 min read
Frameworks (3)
MSP Growth (2)
AI & Security (2)
Company (4)
- What Is Fig Group? The MSP Compliance Platform, Not Financial Institutions Group20 Apr 20267 min read
- Fig Group vs Financial Institutions Group: Clearing Up the Confusion20 Apr 20266 min read
- Fig Group: The Story Behind the Name and Our Mission in MSP Compliance6 Mar 20268 min read
- No, Fig Group Does Not Stand for Financial Institutions Group26 Feb 20265 min read
Guides (131)
- How to become a Cyber Essentials assessor: the IASME requirements and the fastest route (2026)24 Apr 202614 min read
- Does Cyber Essentials protect against ransomware?24 Apr 20265 min read
- What are the five Cyber Essentials controls?23 Apr 20265 min read
- Can a sole trader get Cyber Essentials?22 Apr 20264 min read
- Is Cyber Essentials a legal requirement?21 Apr 20264 min read
- Does Cyber Essentials cover cloud services?21 Apr 20265 min read
- How to verify a Cyber Essentials certificate: the buyer and procurement-team guide (2026)20 Apr 20268 min read
- What size business needs Cyber Essentials?20 Apr 20264 min read
- Does Cyber Essentials require a VPN?20 Apr 20265 min read
- Who needs Cyber Essentials Plus?19 Apr 20265 min read
- Can I get Cyber Essentials Plus without Cyber Essentials?18 Apr 20264 min read
- Can small businesses get Cyber Essentials?18 Apr 20264 min read
- Can you fail Cyber Essentials?17 Apr 20265 min read
- Does Cyber Essentials cover GDPR?17 Apr 20265 min read
- Cyber Essentials Harlow: the 2026 guide for Harlow businesses16 Apr 20264 min read
- Is Cyber Essentials worth it?16 Apr 20265 min read
- Is Cyber Essentials free?16 Apr 20264 min read
- Cyber Essentials Accreditation: the UK guide to getting and keeping your certificate (2026)14 Apr 202611 min read
- Cyber Essentials Certificate: what it is, how to get one, and how long it lasts (2026)13 Apr 202610 min read
- Cyber Essentials Stevenage: the 2026 guide for Stevenage businesses13 Apr 20264 min read
- Cyber Essentials Online: the complete UK guide for 202611 Apr 202611 min read
- Cyber Essentials Bedford: the 2026 guide for Bedford businesses10 Apr 20264 min read
- Cyber Essentials Truro: the 2026 guide for Truro and Cornwall businesses8 Apr 20264 min read
- Cyber Essentials Taunton: the 2026 guide for Taunton businesses5 Apr 20264 min read
- Cyber Essentials Salisbury: the 2026 guide for Salisbury businesses3 Apr 20264 min read
- Cyber Essentials Folkestone: the 2026 guide for Folkestone businesses31 Mar 20264 min read
- Cyber Essentials Dover: the 2026 guide for Dover businesses28 Mar 20264 min read
- Cyber Essentials Tunbridge Wells: the 2026 guide for Tunbridge Wells businesses26 Mar 20264 min read
- Cyber Essentials Slough: the 2026 guide for Slough businesses23 Mar 20264 min read
- Cyber Essentials Hartlepool: the 2026 guide for Hartlepool businesses21 Mar 20264 min read
- Cyber Essentials Stockton-on-Tees: the 2026 guide for Stockton businesses18 Mar 20264 min read
- Cyber Essentials Darlington: the 2026 guide for Darlington businesses15 Mar 20264 min read
- Cyber Essentials Crewe: the 2026 guide for Crewe businesses13 Mar 20264 min read
- Cyber Essentials Rochdale: the 2026 guide for Rochdale businesses10 Mar 20264 min read
- Cyber Essentials Wigan: the 2026 guide for Wigan businesses8 Mar 20264 min read
- Cyber Essentials Oldham: the 2026 guide for Oldham businesses5 Mar 20264 min read
- Cyber Essentials Bolton: the 2026 guide for Bolton businesses2 Mar 20264 min read
- Cyber Essentials Stockport: the 2026 guide for Stockport businesses28 Feb 20264 min read
- Cyber Essentials Halifax: the 2026 guide for Halifax businesses25 Feb 20264 min read
- Cyber Essentials Scarborough: the 2026 guide for Scarborough businesses23 Feb 20264 min read
- Cyber Essentials Doncaster: the 2026 guide for Doncaster businesses20 Feb 20264 min read
- Cyber Essentials Barnsley: the 2026 guide for Barnsley businesses17 Feb 20264 min read
- Cyber Essentials Rotherham: the 2026 guide for Rotherham businesses15 Feb 20264 min read
- Cyber Essentials Huddersfield: the 2026 guide for Huddersfield businesses12 Feb 20264 min read
- Cyber Essentials Kettering: the 2026 guide for Kettering businesses10 Feb 20264 min read
- Cyber Essentials Loughborough: the 2026 guide for Loughborough businesses7 Feb 20264 min read
- Cyber Essentials Mansfield: the 2026 guide for Mansfield businesses4 Feb 20264 min read
- Cyber Essentials Chesterfield: the 2026 guide for Chesterfield businesses2 Feb 20264 min read
- Cyber Essentials Lichfield: the 2026 guide for Lichfield businesses30 Jan 20264 min read
- Cyber Essentials Stafford: the 2026 guide for Stafford businesses28 Jan 20264 min read
- Cyber Essentials Dudley: the 2026 guide for Dudley businesses25 Jan 20264 min read
- Cyber Essentials Walsall: the 2026 guide for Walsall businesses22 Jan 20264 min read
- Cyber Essentials Telford: the 2026 guide for Telford businesses20 Jan 20264 min read
- Cyber Essentials Lisburn: the 2026 guide for Lisburn businesses17 Jan 20264 min read
- Cyber Essentials Derry/Londonderry: the 2026 guide for Derry businesses15 Jan 20264 min read
- Cyber Essentials Bangor (Wales): the 2026 guide for Bangor businesses12 Jan 20264 min read
- Cyber Essentials Wrexham: the 2026 guide for Wrexham businesses9 Jan 20264 min read
- Cyber Essentials Newport: the 2026 guide for Newport businesses7 Jan 20264 min read
- Cyber Essentials St Andrews: the 2026 guide for St Andrews businesses4 Jan 20264 min read
- Cyber Essentials Paisley: the 2026 guide for Paisley businesses1 Jan 20264 min read
- Cyber Essentials Inverness: the 2026 guide for Inverness businesses30 Dec 20254 min read
- Cyber Essentials Perth: the 2026 guide for Perth businesses27 Dec 20254 min read
- Cyber Essentials Stirling: the 2026 guide for Stirling businesses25 Dec 20254 min read
- Cyber Essentials Carlisle: the 2026 guide for Carlisle businesses22 Dec 20254 min read
- Cyber Essentials Lancaster: the 2026 guide for Lancaster businesses19 Dec 20254 min read
- Cyber Essentials Blackpool: the 2026 guide for Blackpool businesses17 Dec 20254 min read
- Cyber Essentials Preston: the 2026 guide for Preston businesses14 Dec 20254 min read
- Cyber Essentials Chester: the 2026 guide for Chester businesses12 Dec 20255 min read
- Cyber Essentials Warrington: the 2026 guide for Warrington businesses9 Dec 20255 min read
- Cyber Essentials Salford: the 2026 guide for Salford businesses6 Dec 20255 min read
- Cyber Essentials Durham: the 2026 guide for Durham businesses4 Dec 20255 min read
- Cyber Essentials Middlesbrough: the 2026 guide for Middlesbrough businesses1 Dec 20255 min read
- Cyber Essentials Gateshead: the 2026 guide for Gateshead businesses29 Nov 20255 min read
- Cyber Essentials Sunderland: the 2026 guide for Sunderland businesses26 Nov 20255 min read
- Cyber Essentials Harrogate: the 2026 guide for Harrogate businesses23 Nov 20255 min read
- Cyber Essentials Wakefield: the 2026 guide for Wakefield businesses21 Nov 20255 min read
- Cyber Essentials York: the 2026 guide for York businesses18 Nov 20255 min read
- Cyber Essentials Hull: the 2026 guide for Kingston upon Hull businesses16 Nov 20255 min read
- Cyber Essentials Bradford: the 2026 guide for Bradford businesses13 Nov 20255 min read
- Cyber Essentials Worcester: the 2026 guide for Worcester businesses10 Nov 20255 min read
- Cyber Essentials Stoke-on-Trent: the 2026 guide for Stoke businesses8 Nov 20255 min read
- Cyber Essentials Wolverhampton: the 2026 guide for Wolverhampton businesses5 Nov 20255 min read
- Cyber Essentials Lincoln: the 2026 guide for Lincoln businesses3 Nov 20255 min read
- Cyber Essentials Northampton: the 2026 guide for Northampton businesses31 Oct 20255 min read
- Cyber Essentials Derby: the 2026 guide for Derby businesses28 Oct 20255 min read
- Cyber Essentials Basingstoke: the 2026 guide for Basingstoke businesses26 Oct 20255 min read
- Cyber Essentials Crawley: the 2026 guide for Crawley businesses23 Oct 20255 min read
- Cyber Essentials Maidstone: the 2026 guide for Maidstone businesses21 Oct 20255 min read
- Cyber Essentials Canterbury: the 2026 guide for Canterbury businesses18 Oct 20255 min read
- Cyber Essentials Woking: the 2026 guide for Woking businesses15 Oct 20255 min read
- Cyber Essentials Guildford: the 2026 guide for Guildford businesses13 Oct 20255 min read
- Cyber Essentials St Albans: the 2026 guide for St Albans businesses10 Oct 20255 min read
- Cyber Essentials Watford: the 2026 guide for Watford businesses8 Oct 20255 min read
- Cyber Essentials Luton: the 2026 guide for Luton businesses5 Oct 20255 min read
- Cyber Essentials Colchester: the 2026 guide for Colchester businesses2 Oct 20255 min read
- Cyber Essentials Chelmsford: the 2026 guide for Chelmsford businesses30 Sept 20255 min read
- Cyber Essentials Peterborough: the 2026 guide for Peterborough businesses27 Sept 20255 min read
- Cyber Essentials Ipswich: the 2026 guide for Ipswich businesses24 Sept 20255 min read
- Cyber Essentials Norwich: the 2026 guide for Norwich businesses22 Sept 20255 min read
- Cyber Essentials Poole: the 2026 guide for Poole businesses19 Sept 20255 min read
- Cyber Essentials Bournemouth: the 2026 guide for Bournemouth businesses17 Sept 20255 min read
- Cyber Essentials Exeter: the 2026 guide for Exeter businesses14 Sept 20255 min read
- Cyber Essentials Plymouth: the 2026 guide for Plymouth businesses11 Sept 20255 min read
- Cyber Essentials Swindon: the 2026 guide for Swindon businesses9 Sept 20255 min read
- Cyber Essentials Gloucester: the 2026 guide for Gloucester businesses6 Sept 20255 min read
- Cyber Essentials Cheltenham: the 2026 guide for Cheltenham businesses4 Sept 20255 min read
- Cyber Essentials Bath: the 2026 guide for Bath businesses1 Sept 20255 min read
- Cyber Essentials Belfast: the 2026 guide for Belfast businesses29 Aug 20256 min read
- Cyber Essentials Swansea: the 2026 guide for Swansea businesses27 Aug 20256 min read
- Cyber Essentials Cardiff: the 2026 guide for Cardiff businesses24 Aug 20256 min read
- Cyber Essentials Dundee: the 2026 guide for Dundee businesses22 Aug 20256 min read
- Cyber Essentials Aberdeen: the 2026 guide for Aberdeen businesses19 Aug 20256 min read
- Cyber Essentials Glasgow: the 2026 guide for Glasgow businesses16 Aug 20256 min read
- Cyber Essentials Edinburgh: the 2026 guide for Edinburgh businesses14 Aug 20256 min read
- Cyber Essentials Leicester: the 2026 guide for Leicester businesses11 Aug 20256 min read
- Cyber Essentials Coventry: the 2026 guide for Coventry businesses9 Aug 20256 min read
- Cyber Essentials Portsmouth: the 2026 guide for Portsmouth businesses6 Aug 20256 min read
- Cyber Essentials Southampton: the 2026 guide for Southampton businesses3 Aug 20256 min read
- Cyber Essentials Milton Keynes: the 2026 guide for MK businesses1 Aug 20256 min read
- Cyber Essentials Reading: the 2026 guide for Reading businesses29 Jul 20256 min read
- Cyber Essentials Brighton: the 2026 guide for Brighton businesses27 Jul 20256 min read
- Cyber Essentials Oxford: the 2026 guide for Oxford businesses24 Jul 20256 min read
- Cyber Essentials Cambridge: the 2026 guide for Cambridge businesses21 Jul 20256 min read
- Cyber Essentials Nottingham: the 2026 guide for Nottingham businesses19 Jul 20256 min read
- Cyber Essentials Sheffield: the 2026 guide for Sheffield businesses16 Jul 20256 min read
- Cyber Essentials Newcastle: the 2026 guide for Newcastle businesses14 Jul 20256 min read
- Cyber Essentials Liverpool: the 2026 guide for Liverpool businesses11 Jul 20256 min read
- Cyber Essentials Bristol: the 2026 guide for Bristol businesses8 Jul 20256 min read
- Cyber Essentials Leeds: the 2026 guide for Leeds businesses6 Jul 20256 min read
- Cyber Essentials Birmingham: the 2026 guide for Birmingham businesses3 Jul 20256 min read
- Cyber Essentials Manchester: the 2026 guide for Manchester businesses1 Jul 20256 min read
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