The deadline is a UK tender gate
When the buyer needs a Cyber Essentials certificate before a bid can progress, Fig is the cleaner path because certification, assessor review, re-submissions, and support are part of the same service.
Fig vs Drata. UK-resident compliance platform with 6-hour Cyber Essentials certification.
Drata is a US-based automation platform for SOC 2 and ISO 27001 evidence. Fig Group is the UK alternative with IASME-licensed Cyber Essentials built in at £299.99 + VAT and a published 6-hour certification guarantee.
Decision table
Capability-by-capability comparison between Fig Group and Drata
| Capability | Fig Group | Drata |
|---|---|---|
| UK-resident data and support | US-primary | |
| IASME-licensed Cyber Essentials certification included | ||
| 6-hour Cyber Essentials turnaround guarantee | ||
| Multi-tenant MSP architecture | Limited | |
| Governance-first control plane (policy drives evidence, not reverse) | Checklist-first | |
| Integrated vulnerability management and EPSS/KEV prioritisation | Add-on | |
| Embedded cyber insurance distribution | ||
| Frameworks supported | 65+ incl. Cyber Essentials, ISO 27001, NIS2, SOC 2, DORA, CS&R, DCC | Depends on package |
| Published Cyber Essentials pricing | From £299.99 + VAT | Not applicable - no CE delivery |
Buyer-fit analysis
Where Fig is the cleaner fit, and where Drata may be.
This page was last reviewed on 27 April 2026. We separate certificate delivery, platform fit, MSP workflow, and procurement risk so the comparison is useful rather than just a vendor scorecard.
Where Fig is the cleaner fit
CE must connect to ISO 27001 later
Fig is useful where CE is the first gate and ISO 27001 follows. The CE evidence is retained as part of the broader governance record rather than treated as a separate questionnaire event.
The MSP needs a repeatable client process
For MSPs, the issue is not one assessment. It is client intake, scoping, evidence gaps, re-submissions, and renewal tracking across a portfolio.
Where Drata may be the cleaner fit
The company is already committed to Drata for audit readiness
If Drata is embedded in auditor workflow, control monitoring, and executive reporting, keeping that platform may be preferable and adding a separate CE certification body can be enough.
The buyer is not UK-facing
If there is no UK public-sector, Cyber Essentials, or UK supply-chain requirement, Drata may align better to the compliance language the customer already expects.
Claims to verify before buying
- 01Ask whether Cyber Essentials certificate issue is included or whether a separate certification body is still required.
- 02Confirm the total cost of certification support, not just automation licensing.
- 03Check how failed Cyber Essentials answers are remediated and re-submitted.
How to read this
The useful question is not which vendor is universally better.
It is which route fits the buyer's certification, data residency, MSP, and assurance requirements. Fig is strongest where Cyber Essentials certification, IASME-licensed assessment, UK support, published pricing, and MSP delivery are part of the requirement. Drata may still be the better choice where its existing product focus, contract position, or implementation model is already aligned to the buyer.
Step 01
Confirm what is being purchased
A formal certificate, a compliance automation platform, a consultancy engagement, or a mixture. Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus must be delivered through an IASME-licensed certification body; generic compliance automation alone does not issue the official certificate.
Step 02
Match supplier to job
If the job is to pass Cyber Essentials quickly, the decisive evidence is IASME licence status, assessor responsiveness, price, re-submission policy, and certificate turnaround. If the job is broader governance automation, the decisive evidence is control ownership, policy workflow, evidence retention, and renewal support.
Buyer checklist
Six questions to ask both suppliers
- 01Are you IASME-licensed? If yes, ask for the licence ID. If no, the supplier cannot issue the official Cyber Essentials certificate.
- 02Is pricing published? Gated, per-certification, subscription, or consultancy-led - confirm before procurement.
- 03Are re-submissions, readiness support, and urgent turnaround included, or charged separately?
- 04For MSPs: confirm tenant isolation, white-labelling, client reporting, and the margin model.
- 05For audit: how is evidence retained, exported, and mapped to framework controls?
- 06For renewal: does the provider support next year's certificate, or only the first submission?
Official sources
Independently verify what either supplier claims
Best fit · Fig Group
Choose Fig when the requirement maps here
- UK organisations that need Cyber Essentials and ISO 27001 on one platform.
- MSPs scaling compliance-as-a-service across SMB clients.
- Buyers who need tender-deadline certification (PPN 014/21).
Best fit · Drata
Choose Drata when the requirement maps here
- US SMBs focused on SOC 2 only.
- Buyers with no UK supply chain or CE requirement.
Next step
Compare on the axis that matters to you.
Cyber Essentials certification, IASME licence, 6-hour turnaround, MSP multi-tenant - Fig publishes the capability set. See pricing or talk to an assessor.