A1.10.5: What other reasons do you have for certifying?
What are the reasons you have applied for the certification which you described as "other"?
Source: IASME Cyber Essentials Danzell question set v16.3
A1.10.5 appears when you chose 'other' in A1.10. Describe the reason in a sentence, for example a parent company policy, a tender pre-qualification questionnaire or a board decision after an incident. IASME uses the answer for research and it does not affect the result. Do not include confidential customer names or protectively marked references.
Is A1.10.5 an automatic fail?
No. A1.10.5 records information about your organisation and is not marked against a technical requirement, so no answer to it fails the assessment. Inaccurate or contradictory details may be returned by the assessor for correction.
- Answer type
- Notes a notes question, answered in free text
- IASME guidance
- Please provide a description.
- Requirement enforced
- Section A1 collects the details that appear on the certificate and shape which later questions are shown.
- Outcome if non-compliant
- Not marked against a requirement; inaccurate details may be returned for correction
What does A1.10.5 ask?
A1.10.5 asks: “What are the reasons you have applied for the certification which you described as "other"?”
A1.10.5 asks for the reasons you described as 'other'. The guidance simply asks for a description.
If the real reason is one of the listed options (a contract, customer confidence, an insurer, a regulator, a grant or general security improvement), choose that option instead so the follow-up questions capture it properly.
What should you write in the notes field for A1.10.5?
Write two to four specific sentences for A1.10.5: what you do, who owns it, how often it happens and the record that proves it.
A model answer to adapt. Replace everything in square brackets with your own facts, and delete anything that is not true.
[One sentence: for example, 'Group policy requires every subsidiary to hold Cyber Essentials' or 'Board decision to adopt a recognised baseline after a phishing incident'.]
What mistakes do applicants make with A1.10.5?
A common mistake with A1.10.5: choosing 'other' for a reason that is on the list.
- Writing a paragraph; one sentence is enough.
- Naming a confidential customer.
- Leaving it blank.
How do you get A1.10.5 right?
Work through these steps before you enter A1.10.5 in the portal:
- Check whether the reason fits one of the listed options in A1.10; if it does, choose that option instead.
- Otherwise describe the reason in one sentence.
How do assessors check A1.10.5?
Where to go next
- Is Cyber Essentials worth it?Reasons organisations certify
- How to get certifiedThe application, step by step
- What Cyber Essentials costsIASME fee bands and assessor prices
- All A1 questionsYour organisation
- Cyber Essentials checklistThe evidence to gather for every question
- Check your readinessScore your answers, auto-fails first
Other A1 questions
- A1.10.3A1.10.3NotesWho is the grant authority?Notes
- A1.10.4A1.10.4NotesWho is the regulator?Notes
- A1.11A1.11Yes/NoHave you read the 'Cyber Essentials Requirements for IT Infrastructure' document?Yes/No
- A1.12A1.12Yes/NoHave you spoken to an assured NCSC Cyber Advisor to help with your application?Yes/No
Frequently asked questions
A1.10.5 in the 2026 Danzell Cyber Essentials question set asks: "What are the reasons you have applied for the certification which you described as "other"?" It is a notes question, answered in free text.
A1.10.5 appears when you chose 'other' in A1.10. Describe the reason in a sentence, for example a parent company policy, a tender pre-qualification questionnaire or a board decision after an incident. IASME uses the answer for research and it does not affect the result. Do not include confidential customer names or protectively marked references.
No. A1.10.5 records information about your organisation and is not marked against a technical requirement, so no answer to it fails the assessment. Inaccurate or contradictory details may be returned by the assessor for correction.
No. It is not marked. Use it when none of the listed reasons fits and describe the reason in a sentence.
Would you pass the 2026 question set?
Answer 24 yes or no questions, built by the assessors who mark Cyber Essentials, and get a readiness score in about five minutes, with any auto-fail questions you miss flagged first in your results.
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