Which Cyber Essentials Bodies Actually Offer Same-Day Certification?

When you need Cyber Essentials certification quickly, the natural first step is to search for a body that can deliver the same day. Several certification bodies reference same-day turnaround in their marketing, but there is a considerable difference between "we aim to" and "we guarantee it."

This article examines what the major UK certification bodies actually commit to and whether same-day certification is a realistic expectation.

Why same-day matters

Cyber Essentials certification is frequently needed against a deadline. Common scenarios include:

In each case, waiting three to five working days for a certificate can mean missing the deadline entirely. Even 48 hours can be too long if the requirement surfaces late in the process.

What the certification bodies say

Fig Compliance

Fig Compliance (part of Fig Group) is the only IASME-licensed body we have found that publishes a specific same-day time commitment. For orders placed before midday, Fig guarantees certification within 6 hours of submission for compliant applications. Three rounds of structured feedback are included if corrections are needed.

This is not described as a target or a best-case scenario. It is published as a guarantee on every product page and is the standard service at no additional cost.

CyberSmart

CyberSmart advertises certification "within as little as 24 hours." Their automated platform handles much of the compliance checking, which reduces the manual assessment bottleneck. However, 24 hours is the best case rather than a guarantee, and the subscription-based pricing (from £999 + VAT per year) is a different model to one-off certification.

Bulletproof

Bulletproof publishes a 48-hour marking target from submission, excluding weekends and bank holidays. This is a clear and honest commitment. In practice, for a submission received on Monday morning, a certificate could arrive by Wednesday. Submissions received on Thursday may not be assessed until the following Monday.

Pentest People

Pentest People publishes a 3-working-day marking time for Cyber Essentials submissions. This is straightforward and there is no suggestion of a same-day option. Their focus is more on the integration of CE with their broader penetration testing services.

Other bodies

Several other certification bodies, including LRQA, IT Governance, and QMS International, do not publish specific turnaround commitments on their websites. Prospective clients are directed to contact sales teams for details. The absence of a published commitment makes it difficult to evaluate same-day capability.

The difference between "aim to" and "guarantee"

This distinction matters. A certification body that aims to assess within 48 hours will usually meet that target during quiet periods. During busy periods, particularly around financial year-ends, government procurement deadlines, or the annual renewal cycle, assessment queues lengthen and turnaround times stretch.

A guarantee is different. It is a published commitment that the body organises its capacity around. Fig Compliance is the only body we have identified that structures its entire operation around a specific, published turnaround time.

What to ask before you buy

If same-day certification is important to you, ask these questions before committing:

1. What is your published turnaround time? If it is not on the website, ask for it in writing.

2. Is the turnaround time a target or a guarantee? There is a meaningful difference.

3. What happens if my submission needs corrections? Does feedback add another day to the queue, or is it reviewed immediately?

4. Is there an additional fee for faster service? Some bodies offer expedited processing at a premium.

5. What time do I need to order by? Fig Compliance requires orders before midday for the 6-hour guarantee.

Summary

For organisations that genuinely need same-day Cyber Essentials certification, the options are limited. Most bodies operate on multi-day timelines. CyberSmart's 24-hour claim is the second fastest we have found, though it comes with subscription pricing.

Fig Compliance remains the only body that publishes a specific sub-24-hour guarantee and delivers it as a standard service. At £314.99 + VAT for micro organisations, it also happens to be the lowest-priced option available.

View same-day certification options