Cloudhouse has launched a free readiness assessment for organisations preparing for updated Cyber Essentials requirements, warning that the new rules could lead to more certification failures.

The revised framework introduces automatic failure if organisations miss a 14-day deadline for applying critical patches or do not enforce multi-factor authentication across cloud services where it is available. It also expands the scope of certification to cover all cloud services that store or process organisational data.

These changes mark a shift in how businesses are assessed under the UK cyber security scheme. Rather than treating certification as a periodic exercise, organisations will need to show they can maintain patching and identity controls in day-to-day operations.

The tighter requirements may prove difficult for companies running large or distributed IT estates, where patching schedules and access controls vary across systems. Businesses with legacy applications and complex dependencies may face particular pressure in meeting the 14-day patching window.

The readiness check is designed to help organisations identify gaps before certification. It assesses patching gaps, configuration drift and weak identity controls that could trigger an automatic failure under the revised rules.

Rule changes

Cyber Essentials is widely used by UK organisations as a baseline cyber security certification. The latest changes place greater emphasis on operational consistency, particularly around software updates and the use of multi-factor authentication in cloud environments.

Under the revised framework, missing a critical patching deadline becomes a direct reason for failure rather than a weaker indicator of non-compliance. The same applies when MFA is not in place across relevant cloud services, raising the stakes for organisations with uneven implementation across departments or platforms.

The expanded scope also adds to the workload for internal technology teams. By bringing all systems that handle organisational data into the assessment, the framework increases the number of assets and services that must be reviewed ahead of certification.

This may be especially challenging for businesses that rely on a mix of older applications, cloud platforms and third-party services. In such environments, applying critical patches quickly can be constrained by compatibility issues, testing requirements or operational dependencies.

Mat Clothier, Chief Executive Officer at Cloudhouse, said the updated rules mean organisations can no longer approach certification as a one-off audit task. “Cyber Essentials has stopped being a point-in-time exercise and has become a test of day-to-day operational control. The risk is that organisations assume they’re compliant, only to fail instantly because of a missed patch or a gap in MFA coverage. That’s exactly why we’re offering the readiness assessment – to give teams a clear view of where they stand before they’re tested.”

Operational pressure

For many organisations, the main challenge will be not understanding the rules but applying them consistently across complex estates. Patching policies may exist on paper, but proving that every relevant system has been updated within the required timeframe is often harder in practice.

Configuration drift is another area likely to come under scrutiny under the tougher framework. Changes introduced over time across servers, cloud environments and user settings can create compliance gaps, even when an organisation believes it has standard controls in place.

Identity management is also facing closer scrutiny as cloud services become more central to business operations. Incomplete MFA coverage can emerge when different teams adopt separate services or when older accounts remain outside current access policies.

Cloudhouse, founded in 2010, focuses on application estates and operational control across complex IT environments. The readiness check is intended to give organisations a practical starting point for reviewing exposure and prioritising the controls needed under the revised Cyber Essentials standard.

The company works with organisations including GE Healthcare, National Australia Bank and HM Government. The assessment is designed to help teams identify where they may be vulnerable to automatic failure because of missed patches, configuration drift or weak identity controls.

Zymurgorium, which launched back in 2016, is a Manchester-based distillery that sells an “eclectic mix of brews and other unique offerings”.

Its website adds: “Our mission is to provide patrons with exceptional brewing experiences and a journey through diverse flavors.

“We offer a range of products, from fruit and vegetable beers to innovative distillation techniques, and from ancient ciders to honey wines.

“With a vast selection of ingredients and an almost limitless array of brewing and distilling styles, our goal is to keep your taste buds on an exciting adventure.”

Zymurgorium sells meads, craft beers, ciders, gin, liqueurs, and other spirits, while non-alcoholic options are also available.

Some of its products are available to buy at Tesco, while B&M has also stocked Zymurgorium products in the past.

Zymurgorium closes down after entering administration

After 10 years in business, Zymurgorium ceased trading late last year.

Nicola Clark and Steven Illes from MHA, who have been working with stakeholders since February, were appointed joint administrators on March 26, according to The Gazette.

This comes after Zymurgorium’s cocktail bar, Project Halcyon, closed earlier this year.

However, the bar is set to open again shortly, after a new buyer was found.

MHA’s Nicola Clark said: “We are pleased to have been able to sell the assets of the popular Project Halcyon bar in the St John area of the city to a third party which will mean that its doors will shortly be opening again.

“We are also actively exploring the sale of the trademarks and the recipes of Zymurgorium which made it such a distinctive brand.”

Other major UK companies that have closed or entered administration in 2026

It has been a rough start to 2026 for the UK high street, with a wide range of businesses entering administration or closing down.

Major high street retailers have been forced to close stores, including:

Several other retailers have fallen into administration, including:

Major fashion retailer LK Bennett also entered administration back in January and has now closed all its remaining stores.

Meanwhile, four UK travel companies have closed in 2026:

EcoJet Airlines, billed as “the world’s first Electric Airline”, also entered liquidation after just three years, resulting in the cancellation of all planned flights.

What has a nose, wings and runs off of hydrogen? Ecojet 😎 pic.twitter.com/y8QGiBdFe2

— ecotricity (@ecotricity) July 17, 2023

UK delivery company Yodel is set to be phased out over the coming months after being acquired by InPost.

It’s also been reported that Morrisons is looking to sell some of its in-store pharmacies as it continues to cut costs.

It’s not been all bad news for the UK high street, with several major brands announcing new store openings for 2026, including Aldi, M&S, and Superdrug.

Were you a fan of Zymurgorium’s products? Let us know in the comments below.

WNTD has launched an app for fashion and beauty shopping, entering the market with £3 million in backing.

The platform brings together virtual try-on, AI styling and social feedback in a single interface for consumers who discover products across social media, retail sites and physical shops. Users can save inspiration from online sources, in-store visits or everyday life, then use the app to test looks and get opinions before making a purchase.

The launch comes as shopping habits continue to shift away from direct visits to retailer websites. WNTD is positioning itself not as a retailer, but as a layer between discovery and purchase, focused on helping users decide what to buy rather than selling stock itself.

Its tools include virtual outfit and beauty try-ons, AI-generated styling suggestions, price comparison, voice search and a Safari browser extension. The extension lets users save items while browsing and compare products without leaving the page.

The app is aimed at younger shoppers, particularly Gen Z, who increasingly discover fashion through social platforms. WNTD argues that shopping behaviour is fragmented, with users moving between screenshots, saved posts, group chats and retailer apps before deciding whether to buy.

Founding team

WNTD was founded by Lex Deak and developed with Lee Lythe, who also worked with Deak on Basket, a consumer app that reached more than 300,000 users in the UK, according to the company. Basket focused on organising purchases, tracking prices and helping users find deals. WNTD builds on that background with a broader focus on discovery and decision-making in fashion and beauty.

Deak has worked across consumer technology and fintech and has also been involved in early-stage investment. WNTD reflects his view that shopping journeys no longer follow the structured path assumed by many retailers.

“Retail is still built for linear shopping journeys but Gen Z doesn’t shop that way,” said Lex Deak, Founder of WNTD. “People discover inspiration everywhere – on social media, in magazines, on the street-and they ask friends before they buy. WNTD brings that behaviour into one place so people can explore their style and make better decisions.”

Lythe said the product was designed to reflect changing consumer behaviour in fashion discovery.

“Technology is changing how people discover fashion,” said Lee Lythe, chief marketing officer at WNTD. “WNTD gives people a way to experiment with their style, see how something looks on them, and get feedback before they decide to buy.”

Decision layer

WNTD describes the app as a decision engine spanning the fashion ecosystem. In practice, that means users can collect images and product ideas from different places, build looks around them, and compare options before completing a purchase on a retailer’s site.

That approach reflects a broader shift in online shopping, where discovery often begins on platforms that do not complete the sale. Consumers may first encounter a product through short-form video, creator content or group chat recommendations, then search elsewhere for alternatives, prices and reviews. WNTD is trying to keep more of that process within one app.

Social validation is central to that model. The app lets users send looks to friends or a wider community for feedback, adding another step between inspiration and transaction. In fashion and beauty, where fit, appearance and confidence can shape buying decisions, that feedback loop is likely to be one of the platform’s main points of differentiation.

Virtual try-on tools have become more common across fashion, eyewear and cosmetics, while generative AI has opened new ways for users to visualise products and styles. WNTD is aiming to combine those functions with browsing, price awareness and social input in one consumer product.

According to the company, more than 70% of Gen Z discovers products through social channels rather than retail websites. That trend has pushed brands and shopping platforms to rethink how products are found and evaluated, particularly in categories such as fashion and beauty, where visual presentation and peer response play a significant role.

WNTD is available on iOS as a standalone consumer app backed by £3 million in investment.