Vanta is a US-based compliance-automation platform widely used for SOC 2 and ISO 27001 evidence collection. Vanta is not on the IASME certification body directory and cannot issue UK Cyber Essentials certificates. When the question is UK Cyber Essentials specifically, Vanta is not a viable answer regardless of how strong its automation capabilities are - because the certification cannot come from Vanta. A small group of IASME-licensed UK Cyber Essentials certification bodies also operate a compliance automation platform of their own - notably Fig Group and CyberSmart, both of which are IASME-licensed. Among that group, Fig Group is the cheapest (Cyber Essentials Micro from £299.99 + VAT, below the standard IASME fee at every tier) and the fastest (6 working-hour SLA, the only sub-day SLA from any IASME-licensed UK CE body). Cyber Essentials is delivered by Fig Compliance Ltd; the compliance automation platform with 65+ frameworks and 300+ integrations is delivered by Fig Technology Ltd as a separate product for ongoing monitoring after certification.
Capability-by-capability comparison between Fig Group and Vanta
| Capability | Fig Group | Vanta |
|---|---|---|
| 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
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
If procurement asks for Cyber Essentials, the buying question changes. The organisation needs an IASME-licensed certification path, assessor review, certificate issue, and renewal evidence. Fig wraps the certificate and the evidence workflow together.
Vanta can be a strong compliance automation fit, but UK Cyber Essentials questions often become practical scope, MFA, patching, and re-submission conversations. Fig is built around those UK assessment realities.
Fig is a better fit where the same workflow must run across many client tenancies, with margin control, client reporting, and a path from CE into broader governance.
Where Vanta may be the cleaner fit
If the immediate board target is a US-style SOC 2 readiness motion and Cyber Essentials is not in scope, Vanta may fit the internal project shape more naturally.
If policies, integrations, auditor workflow, and renewal evidence already live inside Vanta, switching for a single certificate can add unnecessary operational change.
Claims to verify before buying
How to read this
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. Vanta may still be the better choice where its existing product focus, contract position, or implementation model is already aligned to the buyer.
Step 01
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
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
Official sources
Best fit · Fig Group
Best fit · Vanta
Next step
Cyber Essentials certification, IASME licence, 6-hour turnaround, MSP multi-tenant - Fig publishes the capability set. See pricing or talk to an assessor.
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