What's the difference between Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus?

Cyber Essentials is a verified self-assessment against five security controls. Cyber Essentials Plus tests the same controls with a hands-on technical audit by a licensed assessor. You must hold Cyber Essentials before doing Plus.

Do you do the work, or just assess us?

We do the work. Foresight runs the gap analysis, carries out hands-on remediation, prepares the evidence and liaises with the assessor, so you pass first time rather than paying to re-sit a failed audit.

How much does Cyber Essentials cost?

The IASME assessment fee is tiered by size from around £320 + VAT and includes £25,000 cyber liability insurance for eligible UK businesses. Cyber Essentials Plus is scoped to your estate, typically from around £1,380 + VAT.

Financial Advice · IFAs

AI for Financial Advisers: where can financial advisers use AI safely?

AI can save your team real hours — here’s where it genuinely helps financial advisers, where to be careful, and how to use it safely.

Book an AI Readiness Audit Call 0161 738 1399

Why Foresight

Cyber Essentials Plus certified
Microsoft CSP & Copilot specialists
Greater Manchester, since 2006
Honest advice — not licence-selling

Quick answer

Financial advisers and IFAs can use AI to speed up the routine — drafting client letters and suitability reports, summarising documents and meetings, first-pass research, and comms — while the adviser keeps judgement, recommendations and sign-off. Client financial and personal data must stay in secure tools (never public AI), and FCA duties, including Consumer Duty, continue to apply.

Where AI helps

Practical uses for financial advisers

Area	Where AI fits
Client comms	Letters and summaries — Copilot
Suitability & reports	First drafts — adviser reviews and signs off
Research	First-pass research — always verified
Advice & recommendations	Stay with the adviser — never automated

Doing it safely

Governance first

Client financial data and FCA duties mean AI output must be verified and data kept out of public tools. Before rolling anything out, tidy permissions, put a simple AI usage policy in place, keep sensitive data out of public tools, and keep a human in the loop — all part of our AI Adoption service. See also IT support for financial services.

Free downloads

Start today with our templates

The same free, ready-to-use templates we use in our audits:

“Day in the Life” AI template

Find exactly where AI will save your team time.

Download →

AI Usage Policy template

A short, practical AI policy to keep your data safe.

Download →

FAQs

Common questions

Can financial advisers use AI?

Yes — for drafting, summarising and first-pass research. The adviser keeps judgement, recommendations and sign-off; AI speeds up the routine.

Is AI safe for client financial data?

Only in secure, permission-respecting tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot — never public tools. FCA duties and GDPR apply.

Does AI affect FCA or Consumer Duty obligations?

You remain responsible for suitability, accuracy and client outcomes. AI can assist, but the adviser must check and own everything — we help you set the controls.

Will AI replace financial advisers?

No — advice, judgement and client relationships stay firmly human. AI just removes drafting and admin.

Put AI to work — safely

Start with a fixed-fee AI Readiness Audit and get a clear, honest plan — and the licences you actually need.

See AI Adoption as a Service Call 0161 738 1399