Case Study: Foremost Financial Achieves Cyber Essentials Plus for the Fourth Consecutive Year
Sunrise Technologies is proud to support Foremost Financial in achieving Cyber Essentials Plus certification for the fourth consecutive year, a significant milestone that demonstrates long-term commitment to robust cybersecurity and best-practice IT governance.
Cyber Essentials Plus is an independently verified certification that goes beyond basic self-assessment. Achieving it year after year requires not just secure technology, but consistent controls, proactive management, and audit-ready processes.
Foremost Financial achieves Cyber Essentials Plus certification for the fourth consecutive year with proactive security management from Sunrise Technologies.
The Challenge
For organisations in financial services, cybersecurity standards are not optional. Clients, regulators, and partners expect clear evidence that data is protected and systems are resilient.
The challenge for Foremost Financial was not simply to pass a one-off audit, but to:
Maintain high security standards year after year
Ensure systems remained aligned with evolving threats
Make the annual independent Cyber Essentials Plus audit efficient and low-stress
Avoid disruption to day-to-day operations
This requires far more than reactive IT support.
Our Approach
Foremost Financial subscribes to Sunrise’s comprehensive managed service, which is built around proactive security, continuous improvement, and strategic oversight.
Key elements of our approach include:
Proactive Security Management
Regular security assessments
Continuous monitoring and patch management
Ongoing review of configurations and controls
Genuinely Proactive Reviews
Rather than preparing for audits at the last minute, Sunrise carries out structured, proactive reviews throughout the year. This approach ensures potential issues are identified early, risks are addressed before they become audit findings, and evidence is maintained continuously as part of day-to-day operations, not retrospectively in the run-up to an assessment.
Audit-Ready by Design
By keeping systems aligned with Cyber Essentials Plus requirements at all times, the independent audit process becomes: Smooth, Predictable, with low impact on internal teams.
The Results
Foremost Financial has achieved Cyber Essentials Plus for the fourth consecutive year, with each independent audit completed smoothly and without the need for last-minute remediation. This consistent success provides ongoing assurance to clients, partners, and stakeholders, while maintaining a strong cybersecurity posture without disrupting day-to-day operations. Most importantly, it gives Foremost Financial confidence and consistency, knowing their IT environment remains secure, resilient, and compliant all year round, not just at audit time.
Why This Matters
Cyber Essentials Plus is more than a certification, it is a signal of trust.
For financial services firms, maintaining this standard:
Demonstrates commitment to protecting sensitive data
Supports regulatory and governance expectations
Builds confidence with clients and partners
Reduces the risk of security incidents
Achieving it once is an achievement. Achieving it four years running reflects a mature, well-managed approach to IT and security.
Conclusion
Foremost Financial’s continued success with Cyber Essentials Plus highlights the value of proactive, security-first managed IT.
At Sunrise Technologies, we’re proud to support organisations that take cybersecurity seriously, not just as a compliance requirement, but as a core part of how they operate.
We look forward to continuing our partnership with Foremost Financial and supporting them in maintaining high cybersecurity standards in the years ahead.