Cedric Tan
General Manager (Singapore, Thailand & Indonesia)
Cybersecurity certification is no longer reserved for large enterprises. In Singapore, small and mid-sized companies across diverse industries are turning to the Cyber Trust Mark as a practical way to show they take security seriously and to meet growing expectations from clients and partners.
The Cyber Trust Mark, developed by the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA), is a national cybersecurity certification framework. It helps organisations benchmark their cybersecurity practices and provides an externally recognised assurance of operational readiness.
While some early adopters were large institutions, the latest list of certified organisations tells a more revealing story.
SMEs, both regulated and not, are leading adopters
Take Finbots.AI, a fintech SME working with regional banks and regulated financial services. Or Straits Law Practice LLC, a legal firm handling confidential client records and subject to professional codes of data accountability. These are not sprawling multinationals, but they chose to pursue certification to meet growing client expectations and to align with sectoral trust standards.
Even outside regulated sectors, SMEs are participating. I.D. Planning, an interior design firm, and Ascent Solutions, which provides tracking systems for logistics, both achieved the Cyber Trust Mark. So did The Soup Spoon, a well-known local food services brand. Their participation shows that the certification is relevant even where regulation is not the driver.
What this reflects is a change in how trust is built. It is no longer assumed; it needs to be demonstrated.
What does this mean for SMEs?
More clients, especially those in finance, logistics, healthcare, and technology, are now reviewing vendors based on their cybersecurity posture. This is not a legal requirement. It is an operational filter. Can the vendor prove it has structured controls? Can it respond to incidents? Does it handle sensitive data responsibly?
For SMEs, the challenge is not intent. Most are already applying basic security practices. The issue is structure. Many lack formal documentation, audit-ready policies, or alignment with recognised frameworks.
That gap is where certification becomes valuable, not only as an outcome but as a process.
What certification brings is structure and evidence
The Cyber Trust Mark assesses organisations across four areas: cyber hygiene, governance, technical controls, and incident response. These are areas that most companies touch in some form through passwords, firewalls, antivirus tools, or IT policies.
Certification brings those pieces together, identifies the gaps, and helps normalise the process across the business.
Here is what companies typically gain:
- A clearer view of what is in place and what is not
- A consistent baseline that internal teams can work from
- A recognised way to respond to security reviews or procurement questionnaires
For SMEs in particular, the value lies in being ready before the question is asked.
How Cybots supports SMEs in certification readiness
At Cybots, we work with SMEs that recognise the importance of cybersecurity but are often uncertain about what certification requires or whether their current practices are sufficient. Many have already encountered client security checklists or regulatory questionnaires and find themselves unsure how to respond effectively. The issue is rarely about lacking intent, but it is about lacking structure and clarity.
To support SMEs through this process, we offer a structured readiness approach:
- A workshop guided by the CSA checklist
- Internal and external vulnerability assessments
- A compromise assessment to identify hidden risks
- Policy templates and guidance on building an evidence pack
- Practical coaching to prepare for audit engagements where needed
The focus is not only on helping clients pursue certification but also on making cybersecurity readiness manageable and practical. Often, the result is not just audit preparation but improved internal understanding and confidence among teams.
Certification brings internal alignment, not just external recognition
Many SMEs discover that preparing for certification surfaces decisions that were previously unspoken. Who handles incidents? Where are policies stored? How are access rights managed as the team grows?
These are operational questions, not technical ones. And when addressed, they improve the company’s ability to respond quickly when something does go wrong.
Even short internal sessions, such as access reviews or walkthroughs of an incident plan, build confidence and clarity.
Questions we often hear from SME owners
- Do I need to be in a regulated industry to qualify?
No. Certification is open to all sectors. Some pursue it to meet client requirements, and others to strengthen their own practices. - What if we are not ready to apply?
Most SMEs are not. The first step is assessing what is already in place. Even that process often brings immediate benefits. - How long does preparation usually take?
It depends on what exists already. Some clients spend a few months aligning policies and running assessments. Others do it in phases, starting with internal controls. - What does the certification really prove?
It proves that cybersecurity practices are not ad hoc. They are structured, measured, and accountable. It reassures clients that the company is not handling digital risk informally. - Are there any grants available to support the process?
Certification may qualify for funding under government initiatives such as the Enterprise Development Grant (EDG), depending on the sector and scope. These grants typically support broader cybersecurity capability efforts, not certification alone, and applications are assessed based on alignment with business outcomes.
Certification is optional. Being ready is not.
Today, certification is not mandatory for SMEs in Singapore. But many are discovering that business is changing faster than regulation. Questions about security posture, incident response, and third-party risk are already appearing in client conversations, whether the company is ready or not.
The Cyber Trust Mark is one way to bring discipline to those conversations before they become blockers.
For SMEs that want to compete upstream, certification is no longer about prestige. It is about readiness, control, and being trusted to deliver. Often, a structured readiness assessment can offer clarity. Services like TrustReady are designed to support this process without requiring large internal teams or technical overhaul.
