
Cyber Advisor - prepare for success
When taking an assessment for the Cyber Advisor (Cyber Essentials Implementation) scheme with The Cyber Scheme, it’s important to be prepared and to understand the requirements needed to pass. Cyber Advisor tests the application of knowledge and skills within real-world settings, and requires a thorough understanding of organisational requirements as well as technical expertise.
What to consider when sitting your assessment with us:
You will be assessed on the three main aspects of being a Cyber Advisor:
- Your technical knowledge of the standard.
- Applying that technical knowledge to practical applications.
- Consulting skills.
The assessment is set to assess these points as follows:
- Multiple-choice questions, designed to test the knowledge of the Cyber Essentials standard.
- Short form written answers that affirm further knowledge of the standard, and also test practical implementation of the requirements.
- A discussion session with an assessor playing the role of the customer. This is designed to test the Candidate’s consulting skills.
The assessment will be based on a single business scenario throughout.
To pass, candidates must:
- Pass the multiple-choice section of the assessment with a minimum score of 80%. Failing the multiple-choice questions will result in an overall failure of the assessment centre.
- Pass the short form written answers and the discussion section with a combined average score of 75%.
Tips for Success:
For various reasons we are seeing candidates sit this exam inadequately prepared for their assessment; as a result, we are seeing some common but avoidable errors. Please read the advice below to maximise your chance of passing the assessment.
- Read the questions thoroughly.
The multiple-choice and the short-form questions are separate and different questions. Many candidates appear to be writing longer answers for the multiple-choice question and ignoring the short form question.
- One of the elements we are testing in the short-form questions is the ability of the candidate to address in writing the technical aspects of Cyber Essentials to a specific audience.
One common error we are seeing is candidates using technical terminology which a non-technical business owner will not understand or be able to action. Another mistake is to just recite the standard without making appropriate and manageable suggestions for improvements. We are looking for you to interpret the standard and make it relevant to the scenario. Short-form answers should be written as though you are addressing the customer described in the scenario.
- Treat the final section as a true discussion between you and a customer, not a question and answer session between you and your assessor. Treat it as you would a customer meeting, where you may need to clarify points from a previous session, explain the contents of a report, and most importantly ensure your response matches the level of your customer’s understanding.
Good luck in your preparation – and please get in touch using the button below if you have any questions.