Short answer
A home router supplied by the worker or their internet provider is outside the assessment scope. A router supplied by the organisation is in scope and must meet the applicable controls. Protect remote-working devices with the required firewall controls; using home broadband does not exclude the endpoint itself.
Why this matters
Scoping is where many Cyber Essentials submissions fail. The assessor needs to understand which users, devices, networks, and cloud services can access organisational data. A policy statement alone is not enough if the technical environment still allows access.
Agree the organisation, network boundary and locations with the assessor. A separately managed subset needs the required network segregation and a justified boundary. MDM, Conditional Access or a virtual desktop can help manage access, but none automatically excludes an endpoint or cloud service from assessment.
What to check next
- List all devices and cloud services that access organisational data.
- Document any exclusions and the technical enforcement behind them.
- Check BYOD, home working, and production cloud environments before submitting.
Official sources and related Fig Group guidance
For scheme-level confirmation, use the official NCSC and IASME resources. Fig Group links to these sources so Cyber Essentials buyers can verify the scheme, delivery partner and certificate record independently.