The Fastest Cyber Essentials Certification Body in the UK: Why Fig Stands Alone
Most Cyber Essentials certification bodies take 24 to 72 hours to issue a certificate. Fig does it in under 6 hours. No other certification body in the UK can match this. Here is why.
Section 01
The Fastest Cyber Essentials Certification Body in the UK: Why Fig Stands Alone
The fastest Cyber Essentials certification body in the UK is Fig Group, with a published 6-working-hour SLA on clean Micro-tier submissions. Most UK certification bodies take 5-15 working days regardless of submission quality. The certificate itself is identical - only the waiting time and tender risk differ.
When an organisation needs Cyber Essentials certification, the clock is usually already ticking. A tender deadline is approaching. A client contract requires proof of certification by a specific date. An insurance renewal demands evidence of security controls. In these moments, the speed of your certification body matters enormously.
Most Cyber Essentials certification bodies in the UK deliver certificates within 24 to 72 hours of a completed submission. Some take even longer - up to five working days is not uncommon. Fig delivers Cyber Essentials certification in under 6 hours.
No other certification body in the UK can do this. Fig is the only one.
Section 02
The Industry Standard: 24 to 72 Hours
There are dozens of IASME-licensed Cyber Essentials certification bodies operating in the UK. They all follow the same scheme, assess against the same NCSC requirements, and issue the same government-backed certificate. The difference is in how they operate.
The typical process at most certification bodies looks like this:
1. You purchase your Cyber Essentials certification
2. You complete the self-assessment questionnaire
3. You submit it to the certification body
4. An assessor reviews your submission - usually within a queue of other submissions
5. If there are issues, feedback is returned and you resubmit
6. Once everything passes, the certificate is issued
At most certification bodies, step 4 is where the delay lives. Assessors work through queues. Submissions received on Monday might not be reviewed until Wednesday. If feedback is required, the back-and-forth can stretch the process to a week or more.
The industry average sits somewhere between 24 and 72 hours for a straightforward, first-time pass. That is the benchmark. That is what most organisations expect when they begin the process.
Fig operates on an entirely different timeline.
Section 03
Fig: Under 6 Hours
At Fig, if you purchase your Cyber Essentials certification before 12:00 midday and your self-assessment is complete and accurate, you will receive your certificate the same working day - typically within 6 hours of submission.
This is not a marketing claim with caveats. This is how Fig operates every single day. Submissions that arrive before midday are assessed, feedback is provided if needed, and certificates are issued - all within the same working day.
No other Cyber Essentials certification body in the UK offers this turnaround. Not one.
Section 04
Why Nobody Else Can Do This
The reason Fig can certify in under 6 hours while every other certification body takes 24 to 72 hours comes down to how the process is built:
Purpose-built technology platform
Most certification bodies operate using a combination of email, spreadsheets, and generic workflow tools. Submissions arrive by email, are logged manually, assigned to assessors, and reviewed in document form. Every handoff introduces delay. Fig built its own assessment platform from the ground up. Submissions flow into a structured review workflow with automated validation catching common errors before a human looks at them - eliminating hours of administrative overhead that other bodies accept as normal.
Dedicated assessment capacity
Many certification bodies treat Cyber Essentials as one offering among many. Their assessors split time between Cyber Essentials, ISO 27001 consultancy, penetration testing, and other services. When demand peaks, CE assessments wait behind higher-revenue work. Fig is focused - Cyber Essentials is core to what Fig does, not a sideline. Capacity is dedicated and scaled to demand, not borrowed from other workstreams.
Structured feedback loops
When a submission has issues, most bodies send an email listing the problems. The applicant fixes them, resubmits by email, and re-enters the queue. Each round can add 24-48 hours. Fig provides structured feedback inside the platform, up to three times per submission. Applicants see which controls need attention, correct them in the same interface, and resubmit instantly - the assessor picks up the revised submission immediately.
Process design, not just process speed
Fig did not take the standard certification body process and try to do it faster. Fig redesigned the process entirely. Every step - from purchase to submission to assessment to certificate issuance - was engineered to eliminate unnecessary waiting time.
Section 05
What This Means in Practice
Consider two organisations, both needing Cyber Essentials certification for a contract that closes on Friday.
Organisation A chooses a typical certification body on Monday morning. They complete their self-assessment by lunchtime. The certification body reviews it on Tuesday afternoon and returns feedback. Organisation A corrects the issues and resubmits on Wednesday morning. The revised submission is reviewed on Thursday. The certificate arrives Thursday afternoon. Four days.
Organisation B chooses Fig on Thursday morning. They complete their self-assessment by 10:00 AM. Fig reviews it by lunchtime, provides feedback on one control. Organisation B corrects it and resubmits by 1:00 PM. Fig reviews the resubmission and issues the certificate by 3:00 PM. Five hours.
Organisation B started three days later and still finished first. That is the difference.
Section 06
Why Speed Matters Beyond Deadlines
Fast certification is not just about hitting deadlines - although that alone makes Fig the obvious choice for time-sensitive situations. Speed matters for other reasons:
Reduced risk exposure
Every day an organisation operates without certification is a day without verified foundational security controls. Faster certification means less time exposed.
Lower administrative burden
A process that takes 72 hours requires someone to manage it over three days - checking emails, chasing updates, coordinating resubmissions. A process that takes 6 hours is done before the end of the working day.
MSP scalability
For MSPs certifying multiple clients, the difference between 72 hours per client and 6 hours per client is the difference between a manageable workload and a logistical nightmare. Fig's speed lets MSPs certify clients at a pace no other certification body can support.
Confidence in the process
When you know certification will be completed the same day, you can plan around it. You can tell your client, procurement team, or insurer exactly when the certificate will arrive. No uncertainty. No "we're waiting on the certification body."
Section 07
The Numbers
- Industry average turnaround: 24-72 hours
- Fig turnaround: Under 6 hours
- Other certification bodies offering sub-6-hour turnaround: Zero
- Fig structured feedback rounds included: Up to 3
- Additional cost for same-day service at Fig: None - it is the standard service
Section 08
Who Should Use Fig
If you need Cyber Essentials certification and any of the following apply, Fig is the only certification body that makes sense:
Tight deadline
You have a deadline within the next 48 hours and cannot afford to wait three or four working days for an assessment queue.
MSP scaling client volume
You are an MSP certifying multiple clients and cannot afford multi-day delays per client across your portfolio.
Need certainty
You want certainty about when your certificate will arrive - for clients, procurement, or insurers - not "we are waiting on the body."
Burned by slow assessors before
You have been through the process before with another certification body and were frustrated by the wait, the queue, or the back-and-forth.
Value your time
You value your time and do not see why certification should take days when it can take hours.
Section 09
Get Certified Today
Fig is ready when you are. Purchase before 12:00 midday, complete your self-assessment, and have your Cyber Essentials certificate in hand before the end of the working day.
No other certification body in the UK can say that. Only Fig.
About the 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.
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