What is a Cyber Advisor?

Certifications are a great way for customers to get confidence that the company they’re trusting with their cyber security is up to the job. So, when the Cyber Advisor scheme was launched, we thought it was a great opportunity to invest in our staff. In this Q&A blog we’ll look at what a Cyber Advisor is, what it means for your business, and what it means to our staff – as we talk to Bulletproof’s first Cyber Advisor, Jemma Aldridge.

What is the Cyber Advisor scheme?

“The Cyber Advisor scheme is a UK government initiative designed to help SMEs get cyber security support. It’s a way for businesses to get assurance that the person they’ve engaged to help them is qualified to do the job. It’s linked closely with Cyber Essentials.

Having a certified Cyber Advisor means Bulletproof is now listed as an Assured Service Provider for Cyber Advice and Cyber Essentials certification and support. This means our customers should have full confidence and trust in the support we provide, as Bulletproof has been accredited at the highest level for delivery of Cyber Essentials assessments.”

What are the key benefits of the Cyber Advisor scheme?

“The first one is the obvious one: the Cyber Advisor scheme is a way for organisations to get trusted, professional help in safeguarding their business from cyber threats. It assures the competence of cyber security advisors, so is a great trust signal from a customer point of view.

There’s a natural focus on implementing the technical controls outlined in Cyber Essentials, so another good thing it does is reduce the likelihood of common cyber attacks and helps protect sensitive data. From there it’s a short hop to full Cyber Essentials certification.”

Why did you become a Cyber Advisor?

“Currently I’m one of Bulletproof’s certified Cyber Essentials Assessors, which I love as it means I can roll my sleeves up and help businesses sort out their cyber security. So when the opportunity came up to become a Cyber Advisor, and take on more even of this, I jumped at the chance!”

What’s involved in becoming a Cyber Advisor?

“A lot of preparation and having the right mindset! The actual exam itself is 2 hours, with an additional 30 minutes of roleplay with someone taking the part of a customer. The exam is tailored towards a simulated customer scenario which represents what a real-life situation could be.”

What does becoming a Cyber Advisor mean to you?

“As well as being important to Bulletproof and our customers, this was also a qualification I was personally keen to gain. I knew it would be a good opportunity to further my knowledge, a great stepping stone and enhancing my practical technical skills.

However, I was under no illusion that it would be an easy ride! The certifications demand that you take them seriously, and this actually further drove my determination. Overall, I enjoyed the process and value the extra knowledge and skills gained along the way.”