Defence Cyber Certification

Level 1

250+ employees · Low Cyber Risk Profile. L1 is a consultant-led engagement with technology platform gap analysis. Every engagement is a self-assessment prepared by your organisation and independently reviewed by a Fig Group assessor, who checks the evidence and certifies whether you are compliant.

How assessment works

Self-assessment, independently reviewed, formally certified.

DCC is a self-assessment scheme. Your organisation prepares the evidence against the Cyber Security Model v4 requirements for your level. Fig Group, as an IASME-licensed Defence Cyber Certification Body, then independently reviews every piece of evidence you submit. Our assessor checks it against the CSM v4 controls and decides whether your submission meets the standard.

Step 1 · You prepare

Complete the self-assessment.

Your organisation answers the DCC L1 questionnaire and assembles the supporting evidence through the IASME portal. Your dedicated Fig consultant supports you through this phase and the technology platform surfaces technical gaps before submission.

Step 2 · Independent review

A qualified assessor reviews every piece of evidence.

A Fig Group assessor who is independent of your submission examines the evidence against CSM v4. They verify governance documentation, technical controls, supply chain assurance, and - at L1 - conduct interviews with key personnel. This is the independent certification that replaces the old self-declaration approach under DCPP.

Step 3 · Feedback, then certify

Up to three free rounds of feedback.

If the assessor identifies gaps, you receive structured feedback in-platform. You can remediate and resubmit. Up to three rounds of feedback are included in the price - there are no per-round charges, no resubmission fees, and no hidden costs. Once your evidence meets the standard, the certificate is issued.

What's included at £25,000 – £49,999

Everything in this engagement.

The price is fully inclusive. No add-ons, no separate quotes, no surprise charges during the engagement.

Included

What the £25,000 – £49,999 price covers.

  • Cyber Essentials certification prerequisite (issued same-day if not already held)
  • Full DCC Level 1 assessment against the CSM v4 Level 1 requirements
  • Dedicated consultant for the full engagement - scoping, evidence preparation, remediation, and formal assessment
  • Technology platform gap analysis across your in-scope cloud infrastructure, endpoints, identity and public services
  • Evidence preparation support (ISMS documentation, risk assessment, access control, business continuity, subcontractor assurance)
  • Up to three free rounds of remediation feedback from your independent assessor
  • Certificate issuance, IASME DCC register listing, three-year validity
  • Annual attestation support across the three-year certificate period
No hidden fees

Not charged on top.

  • Pre-engagement "readiness assessment" at a separate fee
  • Per-interview charges during the assessor phase
  • Additional fees for multi-site coverage within the agreed scope
  • Separate charges for the initial CSM v4 gap review

Three rounds of assessor feedback are part of the base fee, not a premium add-on. Most engagements conclude inside two rounds.

What your fee actually buys

The L1 price is bundled, not audit-only.

Some Certification Bodies quote L1 as an audit-only engagement and price the consultant and technology platform as separate add-ons. Fig bundles both into the base fee. Here is the breakdown.

Technology platform

Fig's platform, normally £4,200 per annum, included.

Automated gap analysis runs across your in-scope systems - cloud, identity, endpoints, public-facing services - and surfaces issues that would otherwise become assessor findings. You remediate quietly before the formal review rather than under audit pressure. Platform access for the engagement is included in the L1 fee, not billed separately.

Dedicated consultant

A named Fig consultant throughout the engagement.

One point of contact through scoping, evidence preparation, platform findings, remediation and formal assessment. The consultant reviews every piece of evidence before submission so the assessor sees a clean pack. This is the engagement model - not a premium upsell.

Assessment and certification

Independent Fig Group assessor review and certificate issuance.

An IASME-licensed Fig Group assessor independent of the consultant reviews the submission against CSM v4, runs interviews with your named roles, and issues the certificate on pass. Three rounds of assessor feedback are included in the fee.

Cyber Essentials is priced separately and is a prerequisite. We can bundle CE with your DCC engagement on request - talk to us for a combined quote.

Timeline

Expected engagement duration.

6 – 10 weeks for prepared organisations.

Timelines are driven more by the preparation state of your organisation than by the Certification Body. Organisations with existing Cyber Essentials, established governance documentation, and a clear scope typically certify at the lower end of the range. Organisations starting from a low baseline - without an ISMS or existing incident response plan - should plan for the upper end.

Pricing FAQ

Frequently asked questions on DCC L1 pricing.

Is VAT included in this price?

No. All Fig pricing is stated exclusive of VAT. The £25,000 – £49,999 price shown is before VAT at the standard rate. Our invoices itemise VAT separately.

Is Cyber Essentials included?

No, Cyber Essentials is a prerequisite and is priced separately from this L1 fee. We can bundle CE with your DCC engagement on request - contact us and we will provide a combined quote.

Can we pay by invoice rather than card?

Yes. The Buy now button runs through Stripe for card payment. If you need to pay by BACS against a Purchase Order, contact us and we will raise an invoice. Net 30 payment terms are standard for UK-based organisations.

What is included in the base fee?

L1 is bundled: an IASME-licensed Fig Group assessor conducts the formal assessment, a dedicated Fig consultant supports scoping and evidence preparation end-to-end, and the Fig technology platform (normally £4,200 per annum) runs automated gap analysis across your in-scope systems. Three rounds of assessor feedback are included - no per-round charges.

Are there multi-year or multi-entity discounts?

DCC certificates are valid for three years, so there is no multi-year pricing in the traditional sense - the fee covers the three-year cycle. For organisations certifying multiple legal entities or sister companies under a single engagement, contact us for a group quote.

What happens if we fail the assessment?

Up to three rounds of assessor feedback are included in the base fee. If the assessor identifies gaps, you receive structured feedback in-platform, can remediate, and resubmit - there are no per-round charges or resubmission fees. Most engagements conclude inside two rounds.

Is a refund available if we change our mind?

Refunds are available up to the point that assessment work has commenced. Once the assessor has started reviewing your evidence, work done cannot be refunded. See our Terms and Conditions for the full cancellation and refund position.

Ready to start

Start your L1 engagement.

Tell us about your Cyber Essentials status, the MOD contract context, and your target certification date. We come back within one working day with an engagement plan and a firm quote.