Cyber Essentials automation and direct certification are different buying decisions.
Vanta supports Cyber Essentials and Plus readiness as well as wider compliance automation. Evidence collection and framework support are different from assessment and certificate issue by the appropriately licensed body. Confirm which certification partner and assessment fees are included in a Vanta proposal. 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 (guaranteed certification within six working hours for complete, compliant Basic submissions before midday on a UK business day, subject to our terms). 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 | Confirm hosting region and support arrangements | |
| Cyber Essentials assessment and certificate delivery | Available through Fig Compliance Ltd; select the certification offer | Framework support; confirm licensed assessment partner and included fees |
| Cyber Essentials Basic turnaround guarantee | Within six working hours for complete, compliant submissions before midday on a UK business day; terms apply | Not established by the reviewed public evidence |
| Multi-tenant MSP architecture | Multi-client partner management available; confirm partner terms | |
| Governance-first control plane (policy drives evidence, not reverse) | Compare the actual policy and evidence workflow | |
| Integrated vulnerability management and EPSS/KEV prioritisation | Confirm included capabilities and integrations | |
| Customer-controlled evidence exports for insurer review | Not established by the reviewed public evidence | |
| Frameworks and regulatory mappings supported | 65+ incl. Cyber Essentials, ISO 27001, NIS2, SOC 2, DORA, CS&R, DCC | Includes Cyber Essentials and Plus readiness alongside other frameworks |
| Published Cyber Essentials pricing | From £299.99 + VAT | Platform quote and certification arrangement must be compared separately |
Buyer-fit analysis
This page was last reviewed on 27 September 2026. We separate certificate delivery, platform fit, MSP workflow, and procurement risk so the comparison is useful rather than just a vendor scorecard. The Basic guarantee applies to complete, compliant submissions received before midday on a UK Business Day, subject to our certification terms. Platform subscriptions and certification are separate purchasing options.
Where Fig Group 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 Group 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 Group is built around those UK assessment realities.
Fig Group 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
Evidence links
How to read this
It is which route fits the buyer's certification, data residency, MSP, and assurance requirements. Fig Group 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, six-working-hour turnaround, MSP multi-tenant - Fig Group publishes the capability set. See pricing or talk to an assessor.