Damien Harrison

DSPT 2025/26

DSPT 2025/26 NHS DSPT

Most organisations do not ignore DSPT. It sits on the list, gets discussed, and there is usually a broad expectation that it will get done.

Then June arrives and the tone changes.

Questions start surfacing that no one can answer quickly. Where is the training evidence? Who last reviewed access permissions? Has anyone checked whether your suppliers meet the required standard?

At that point, the issue is whether the organisation can stand behind what it believes is in place. That gap between belief and proof is where pressure builds and where risk sits.

Cyber Essentials v3.3: What Darlington and North East SMEs Need to Do Before 27 April 2026

Cyber Essentials v3.3: What Darlington and North East SMEs Need to Do Before 27 April 2026 Cyber Essentials v3.3 director sign off and board accountability explained

If you run an SME in Darlington, Tees Valley or the wider North East, Cyber Essentials v3.3 is not just another minor update. From 27 April 2026, the standard becomes clearer and stricter around cloud services, end-user devices, MFA, patching and supported software.

Published: 27 April 2026 | By Bondgate IT

Cyber Security Is No Longer Optional: What UK SMEs Need to Focus on Now

Cyber Security Is No Longer Optional: What UK SMEs Need to Focus on Now cyber security for SMEs UK

Cyber security for SMEs in the UK is no longer a background IT concern. It is an operational issue that sits with leadership.

Many businesses believe they are protected because they have antivirus, firewalls, and backups in place. Yet attacks continue to land, not because tools fail, but because control, visibility, and ownership are unclear.

Cyber Essentials v3.3: Why Cyber Security Is Now a Board Responsibility

Cyber Essentials v3.3: Why Cyber Security Is Now a Board Responsibility Cyber Essentials v3.3 director sign off and board accountability explained

From 28 April 2026, Cyber Essentials v3.3 requires a director or board-level representative to confirm that the organisation will maintain compliance with Cyber Essentials controls throughout the certification period.

This change shifts Cyber Essentials from a technical checklist to a governance responsibility. Leadership must now ensure scope is defined, access is controlled, updates are maintained, and compliance does not drift between renewals.

For SMEs, this means cyber security is no longer delegated solely to IT. It becomes a board-level accountability issue linked to operational risk, regulatory exposure, supply chain credibility, and insurance expectations.

Organisations preparing for 2026 certification should focus on ownership, scope clarity, privileged access review, and establishing a structured compliance rhythm.

New Financial Year Planning: Why Your IT Roadmap Matters More Than Ever

New Financial Year Planning: Why Your IT Roadmap Matters More Than Ever

As April approaches, leadership teams across the UK are entering a familiar planning cycle. Budgets are being refined, forecasts reviewed, and difficult trade-offs discussed. Growth targets are set alongside cost pressures, recruitment plans, and rising expectations around security and resilience. Yet in many organisations, one area still sits uncomfortably outside this process: technology. IT is […]

Responsible AI Adoption for UK Businesses Starts With Cyber Security

Responsible AI Adoption for UK Businesses Starts With Cyber Security Responsible AI Adoption for UK Businesses | Award-Winning Approach

Responsible AI adoption for UK businesses requires strong cyber security, ethical governance, and leadership accountability. This guide explains how organisations can adopt AI safely using a crawl, walk, run framework, and why Bondgate IT’s approach has been recognised as MSP with the Best Use of AI.

Marketing Campaign of the Year. Recognition for leadership, not noise.

Marketing Campaign of the Year. Recognition for leadership, not noise. MSP Marketing Campaign of the year.

Cyber security leadership in the UK is becoming a board-level responsibility. This award recognises how Bondgate IT, NEBRC Cyber Expert Garry Brown, and the wider team are leading that conversation nationally.