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Home / Resources / Cyber Essentials Update: key changes from April 2026

Cyber Essentials Update: key changes from April 2026

From 27th April 2026, a new set of refinements to the Cyber Essentials and the Cyber Essentials Plus certifications will officially come into effect. Leaving no grey areas or room for interpretation, here are the coming 2026 updates to the Cyber Essentials scheme.

What's changing in 2026?

The document breaks down the updated certification criteria by exploring:

  • The conversion of the 14-day high-risk patch window into a strict mandate and the requirement for universal multi-factor authentication across all cloud applications
  • The removal of network scope exemptions alongside tougher secondary random-sample testing parameters for Cyber Essentials Plus audits
  • The critical preparation strategies for corporate networks, focusing on automated patch management systems and the structural isolation of uncertified devices

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Cyber Essentials Update: key changes from April 2026

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