The Challenge
You might already have reasonable security in place. Antivirus, MFA, regular backups—the basics are covered. But increasingly, that’s not enough. Your stakeholders want proof.
Your insurer wants to see documented security controls before they’ll offer reasonable premiums—or coverage at all.
Your clients are sending vendor security questionnaires, asking about your cybersecurity framework and maturity level.
Your board wants assurance that cyber risk is being managed—something more concrete than “we’re pretty secure.”
That tender you’re pursuing requires cybersecurity certification, and you can’t demonstrate compliance with any recognised framework.
The challenge isn’t just improving your security—it’s proving your security in a way that satisfies external stakeholders. You need a certification that’s recognised, achievable, and designed for businesses like yours.
That’s exactly what SMB1001 delivers.
What is SMB1001
Most cybersecurity frameworks were designed for enterprises—large organisations with dedicated security teams and substantial budgets. ISO 27001, SOC 2, NIST—these are excellent standards, but they’re often overkill for a business with 20, 50, or even 100 employees.
SMB1001 is different. Developed specifically for small and medium-sized businesses (typically 5-200 employees), it provides a structured path to demonstrable cybersecurity maturity without enterprise-level complexity or cost.
What Makes SMB1001 Different
It covers more than just technical controls.
It's tiered and achievable.
It aligns with Essential 8.
It's recognised by insurers.
The Three Tiers
The essential foundation
Bronze certification establishes your security fundamentals. It covers the controls that protect against the most common cyber threats—the attacks that target the majority of Australian businesses.
Core requirements include: asset inventory, multi-factor authentication, documented incident response procedures, security awareness training, and reliable backup systems.
Best for: Businesses seeking to satisfy basic insurance requirements, demonstrate security commitment to clients, or establish a foundation for future certification advancement.
Typical timeline: 6-10 weeks from assessment to certification.
Advanced protection and monitoring
Silver builds on Bronze with enhanced capabilities for threat detection, vulnerability management, and security governance. It’s designed for businesses handling sensitive data or operating in environments where security is a competitive differentiator.
Additional requirements include: advanced threat detection, network segmentation, regular vulnerability assessments, comprehensive backup strategy with tested recovery, and third-party vendor security assessments.
Best for: Businesses in regulated industries, those pursuing enterprise contracts, or organisations where a security incident would have significant business impact.
Typical timeline: 3-5 months from Bronze certification (or 4-6 months from baseline).
Comprehensive cyber resilience
Gold represents comprehensive cyber resilience—not just protection, but the ability to detect, respond to, and recover from security incidents. Organisations at this level often use their security posture as a genuine competitive advantage.
Additional requirements include: continuous security monitoring with 24/7 response capability, business continuity planning with regular testing, supply chain security management, organisation-wide security culture, and regular independent security assessments.
Best for: Businesses where cybersecurity certification is a sales enabler, those seeking the highest level of protection, or organisations targeting security-conscious markets and clients.
Typical timeline: 6-12 months from Silver certification, depending on existing capabilities.
Why Grassroots IT
Why Brisbane Businesses Choose Us for SMB1001
We Know What Certification Actually Requires
We've Achieved ISO 27001 Ourselves
We Help You Find the Right Level
We Maximise Your Existing Microsoft Investment
We Build Security That Lasts
Local Team, Australian Framework
How We Work
Gap Assessment
Certification Pathway
Implementation
Documentation & Evidence
Assessment Support
Ongoing Maintenance
SMB1001 vs Essentials 8
Essential 8
SMB1001
Choose Essential 8 if:
Choose SMB1001 if:
Choose both if:
Not sure which path is right?
What You Get
Executive Summary:
A high-level overview suitable for sharing with leadership or your board—key findings, overall risk assessment, and priority recommendations.
Detailed Findings Report:
Comprehensive documentation of each finding with risk rating, current state, recommended state, and remediation guidance.
Prioritised Remediation Roadmap:
A practical action plan organised by priority, with estimated effort levels to help you plan resources and budget.
Framework Alignment Score:
Where relevant, your current position against Essential 8, SMB1001, or other frameworks—useful for certification planning or compliance evidence.
Presentation Session:
A face-to-face (or video) session to walk through findings, answer questions, and discuss next steps.
Ready to Achieve SMB1001 Certification?
Whether you’re responding to an insurer’s requirements, pursuing a client contract, or simply want to formalise your security posture, we can help. Book a conversation with our security team to discuss your certification goals and understand what working together would look like.
