Danzell v3.3 Preparation

CE+ Pre-Assessment

Full credentialed vulnerability scan using Cyber Essentials authorised scanners approved by NCSC. Catch the gaps before the assessor arrives.

Credentialed scan, written gap report, guidance call and re-scan, in one fixed quote. Tell us your estate size and we'll email your price.

Why Pre-Assess?

The cost of failing CE+ once typically exceeds 3× the cost of a pre-assessment. Under Danzell v3.3, failure is far more expensive than it used to be.

What happens if CE+ fails without preparation

•First sample fails → assessor pulls a second sample from different devices
•Second sample fails with same vulnerabilities → CE+ denied
•Your CE Basic certificate is revoked too, under the scheme rules
•Re-certification cost: £1,520–£2,700 + VAT depending on org size
•Plus: emergency remediation costs, downtime, insurance renewal blockers

What a pre-assessment gives you

•Known list of vulnerabilities with CVE IDs and CVSS scores
•Prioritised remediation order (critical first)
•Remediation call with our team to walk through each finding
•Re-scan option after fixes to confirm before the real CE+
•Confidence to book CE+ knowing what the assessor will see

Get Your Instant Quote

Tell us a little about your estate and we'll email you a fixed, all-inclusive quote straight away. Whatever the size of your estate, no hidden costs.

What's Included

Full credentialed vulnerability scan

Full credentialed vulnerability scan using Cyber Essentials authorised scanners approved by NCSC. Not Microsoft Defender, not Sophos built-ins, not RMM scanners (ConnectWise, Datto, NinjaOne), not any antivirus 'vulnerability scan' feature.

Device sampling done the same way as the real assessment

Under Danzell v3.3 the assessor pulls a random sample from across your estate. We sample the same way, using the same scanner class against the same controls. The assessor's sample is drawn at random and will not match the devices we check, so fixes should be applied across your whole estate.

Prioritised remediation plan with CVSS scores

Every finding is mapped to its CVE, CVSS score, and the 14-day patching window. You get a clear order of operations to close gaps before the real assessment.

Remediation guidance call

A 30-minute walkthrough with our team to explain each finding, confirm the fix, and agree timelines. Not just a report dumped over the wall.

Re-scan option after remediation

Fixed the gaps? We'll re-scan the devices we checked (fixed cost, optional add-on) to confirm the remediation before you book the formal assessment. The assessor's sample is drawn separately at random, so apply fixes across your whole estate.

No surprises on the day

The point of a pre-assessment isn't to avoid CE+, it's to remove the Danzell v3.3 lottery element. You arrive at the real assessment knowing what the assessor will test and having already fixed it.

Want CE+ to be a formality every year, not just this one?

CE+ Assured bundles continuous scanning, automated patching, AND your annual CE Basic + CE Plus certifications into a single monthly subscription. Renewals are included. The cost of failing CE+ once typically exceeds 12 months of CE+ Assured combined.

Frequently Asked Questions

Because under Danzell v3.3 (effective 27 April 2026), failing CE+ means you ALSO lose your existing CE Basic certificate and have to pay for both from scratch. A pre-assessment costs a small fraction of a failed re-certification and removes the guesswork. It's insurance against a re-cert you can't afford.

A pre-assessment is a one-off scan, you pay once, we report, you fix. CE+ Assured is a monthly subscription where we scan, patch, and certify continuously. If you want a single point-in-time check before booking CE+, pick the pre-assessment. If you want ongoing coverage so CE+ is a formality every year, pick CE+ Assured. Many clients start with a pre-assessment and graduate to CE+ Assured for ongoing renewals.

Typically 3–5 working days from agent deployment to report delivery, depending on device count and IT team availability. We can fast-track if you're time-critical before a scheduled CE+ assessment, contact us for options.

We'll tell you honestly and recommend delaying the formal CE+ booking until you're ready. Rescheduling the assessment with enough notice costs nothing, whereas a failed attempt means paying to start over. Waiting a few weeks to prepare properly is nearly always the right call.

We use Cyber Essentials authorised vulnerability scanners approved by NCSC. Because all approved scanners work from the same CVE and CVSS data, findings are consistent regardless of which specific scanner is used. The key requirement is that the scanner performs credentialed scans and produces CVE-level output with CVSS v3 scores.

It's a single fixed quote based on the number of devices in scope, with no hidden extras. Complete the form on this page with your device count and we'll email your exact quote straight away. We price estates of any size. All prices exclude VAT.

Ready to Pre-Assess?

Get in touch to scope your pre-assessment and lock in a date. We can typically start within a week for standard engagements.

Already going for CE Plus?

Get the Pre-Assessment plus the assessment, at a combined price.

CE Plus Prep & Certify bundles the Pre-Assessment rehearsal, the prioritised fix list, the remediation guidance and the audited CE Plus assessment together. The recommended level for any organisation entering Danzell.

From £2,250 + VAT