We are proud to announce that on Monday 20 April, Thrive Homes successfully achieved Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation — completing the full process in just 10 weeks, significantly faster than is typically seen, according to cyber security consultant David King.
Cyber Essentials Plus is a rigorous, independently verified standard that demonstrates strong cyber security controls across an organisation’s IT estate. Achieving it at pace required exceptional commitment from everyone involved.
Our IT team, working closely with our partners at Conosco, rose to an intense challenge — completing complex technical work, implementing enhanced controls, and ensuring every device met the highest security standards. Their determination and expertise were central to this success.
Support from colleagues across the organisation also played a vital role. From updating laptops and phones to enabling essential checks, every team contributed to ensuring our systems were secure and compliant.
During the assessment, NGS selected a random sample of laptops and servers to verify that they were fully up to date and secure. Not only did we meet this requirement, but we demonstrated that our entire, in scope, IT estate is fully maintained and up to date — something rarely seen during Cyber Essentials Plus assessments.
This achievement places us in a strong position as we move towards forming a new community gateway housing association with Watford Community Housing on 1 June. Both organisations share a strong commitment to protecting customer data, strengthening resilience, and building a secure foundation for the future.