About me
I am Serhat, and I run Platform Collective as a sole trader in Bromley.
I spent three years on an IT service desk at Totality Services, working hands on with Microsoft Intune and Azure, including enrolling and managing devices for a chain of estate agents.
I now help small local firms get the basics of cyber security right, starting with Cyber Essentials. I keep things calm, clear and jargon free, and I work mostly by screen share in short, booked sessions.
I am not a Certification Body and I do not issue certificates. My job is to get you ready so that your submission is honest, complete and likely to go smoothly.
Questions and honest answers
Do you issue the Cyber Essentials certificate?
No. Only an IASME licensed Certification Body can award Cyber Essentials. Its independent assessor marks your answers. I prepare you and help you through the process.
Can you guarantee we will pass?
No, and you should be wary of anyone who does. The Certification Body decides. If your first submission does not pass, I help you fix the gaps and resubmit at no extra charge for my time, within the agreed scope.
Will we get the 75% discount?
Possibly. IASME decides eligibility when you register, not me. In short, you must be registered in the UK, must not have held Cyber Essentials in the last four years, and must stay within the £315,000 Minimal Financial Assistance limit. The scheme closes on 31 March 2027 or sooner if the money runs out. My fee is the same either way.
Sources: IASME, First Step Fund; GOV.UK, Cyber Essentials funding package.
What does it cost in total?
My readiness package is £395 fixed. Not VAT registered; prices are what you pay. The assessment fee is separate and you pay it directly to the Certification Body: £80 plus VAT for a business with up to 9 staff if you qualify for the fund, or £320 plus VAT without it. Any new hardware or licences you need are also extra, and I will tell you before you buy anything.
Sources: IASME, First Step Fund; IASME FAQ.
What if we need more than 4 hours of fixes?
I will tell you before I start. Extra time is £50 an hour in 30 minute blocks, and only after you agree in writing. Bigger jobs get a fixed quote first.
Do you need to come to our office?
Usually not. Almost everything is done by screen share. If a device needs hands on work, a visit in the Bromley area can be arranged.
What access do you need, and what happens to it afterwards?
A named contact and temporary admin access to your Microsoft 365. I only use it for the agreed work, and it is removed when the work is finished. Your business signs and submits the questionnaire and is responsible for its answers.
We do not use Microsoft 365. Can you still help?
My package is built around Microsoft 365, Entra ID and Intune. For Google Workspace or other setups I can do a basic check and tell you honestly whether I am the right person.
Do we have to sign up for the £29 a month care plan?
No. It is optional. It covers a monthly check, one 30 minute session for small changes, and cheaper renewal preparation. You can cancel any time with 30 days' notice.
Does Cyber Essentials make us fully secure?
No scheme can do that. Cyber Essentials covers the basic controls that protect against the most common online attacks. It is a strong first step, not the whole story. The NCSC also strongly recommends backups, even though they are not part of the certificate.
Sources: NCSC, Cyber Essentials overview; NCSC, Requirements for IT Infrastructure v3.3 (PDF).
Privacy
This website does not use cookies, analytics, tracking or contact forms.
If you email me, I use your name, email address and anything you tell me only to reply and, if you become a client, to do the agreed work. I do not sell or share it for marketing. I delete enquiries that do not lead to work after 12 months, unless you ask me to delete them sooner.
This site is hosted by Cloudflare, which may keep basic technical logs to run and protect the site. Emails to hello@platformcollective.co.uk are forwarded to my personal inbox by Cloudflare Email Routing.
You can ask to see, correct or delete what I hold about you by emailing hello@platformcollective.co.uk. If you are unhappy with how I handle your data, you can complain to the Information Commissioner's Office at ico.org.uk.
Data controller: Serhat Dereli, trading as Platform Collective, Bromley, London. Last updated 14 November 2026.