Does ClearAsset replace a CE assessment?
No. ClearAsset helps you prepare and track evidence for Cyber Essentials — it isn't a substitute for the formal self-assessment questionnaire (or, for Cyber Essentials Plus, the hands-on technical audit), and it isn't an accredited certification body.
What ClearAsset actually does
- Gives you a single place to record the technical details each of the five controls needs — per device, per software record, per user account
- Scores your organisation against each control in real time, so you can see gaps before they show up in the actual assessment
- Flags specific issues (e.g. "Real-time AV scanning not confirmed" on a named device) rather than just an overall pass/fail
- Keeps that data current as your estate changes, instead of a one-off snapshot
What it doesn't do
- Submit anything to IASME or the NCSC on your behalf
- Scan your network or devices automatically — the data reflects what's recorded in ClearAsset, which your team enters
- Guarantee certification — the actual assessment questionnaire covers organisational and process questions ClearAsset doesn't track, alongside the technical controls it does
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Tip
Think of the Cyber Essentials page in ClearAsset as your evidence pack and gap-tracker for the technical controls — you'll still complete the assessment itself through IASME's certification body process.