Cybersecurity is now one of the biggest challenges facing small and medium-sized businesses in New Zealand. The cost of a cyber attack isn’t just financial — it can damage customer trust, disrupt operations, and even put a company out of business.
To address this, the SMB1001:2026 cybersecurity certification standard has been developed as a practical, affordable, and globally recognised way for SMBs to build cyber maturity. Unlike enterprise-heavy standards that can be costly and hard to implement, SMB1001:2026 is designed specifically for small and medium organisations, giving them a clear pathway to strengthen defences and demonstrate resilience.
What SMB1001:2026 means for your business
The SMB1001:2026 multi-tiered model breaks cybersecurity down into five progressive levels. Each tier builds on the last, from getting the basics right with antivirus, firewalls, and backups, through to advanced practices like strong governance, risk management, and third-party assurance.
This approach makes SMB1001:2026 accessible and achievable. It allows you to:
Start at the tier that matches your current capability.
Improve your cybersecurity step by step, without wasted effort.
Show clients and partners that you take cyber resilience seriously.
For many businesses, certification against SMB1001:2026 becomes a competitive edge. It provides visible proof that you’re managing cyber risk in line with an international framework — a powerful message when tendering for contracts or working in sensitive supply chains.
Why SMB1001:2026 is different
The 2026 revision of SMB1001 reflects today’s realities. It introduces important updates such as responsible use of AI, stronger email security controls, and expanded requirements for contractor and third-party agreements. These additions recognise how technology and threats are evolving, ensuring that SMB1001:2026 stays relevant for modern businesses.
Unlike “one-size-fits-all” frameworks, SMB1001:2026 is flexible. Some controls are matured gradually as you progress through the levels, while others stay constant. This ensures businesses aren’t overloaded with unnecessary complexity, but can still demonstrate clear, practical improvements year on year.
How CyberGrape helps
At CyberGrape, we’re licensed to use the official SMB1001:2026 standard to guide New Zealand businesses through the certification journey. We understand the reality of running a small or medium business — limited budgets, limited time, and the need for solutions that work in practice.
We provide:
Readiness assessments to identify your current tier and what’s needed next.
Implementation support across people, process, and technology.
Training and awareness programmes to make security part of your culture.
Guidance through the certification process so you can achieve SMB1001:2026 with confidence.
Moving forward
Cyber threats aren’t slowing down, and neither should your defences. By adopting SMB1001:2026, you’re not only protecting your data and systems, you’re showing clients and partners that your business is committed to security and resilience.
CyberGrape’s mission is simple: help Kiwi SMBs get secure and stay secure. If you’re ready to start your journey with SMB1001:2026, we’d love to help.
Note: SMB1001:2026 is owned and maintained by Dynamic Standards International (DSI). CyberGrape Limited is a licensed user of the SMB1001 standard and provides advisory and implementation services to help New Zealand SMBs achieve certification.
