Running a small business in Singapore means you are constantly juggling priorities. Cybersecurity often sits near the bottom of the list, right below payroll, customer service, and keeping the lights on. It feels expensive, technical, and like something you will deal with later.
Here is the thing though. The Singapore government already set aside money to help businesses like yours get protected. Most SME owners just do not know about it.
Through the CSA CISOaaS programme, eligible SMEs can receive up to 70% co-funding support for cybersecurity consultancy services. That means the government covers the majority of the bill, and your business pays a small fraction of the total cost.
This guide will walk you through everything you need to know: what the grant covers, whether you qualify, and the exact steps to apply.
CISOaaS stands for Chief Information Security Officer as a Service. It is a programme run by the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) that connects SMEs with approved cybersecurity consultants.
The idea is simple. Hiring a full-time CISO is out of reach for most small businesses. The CISOaaS programme gives you access to senior cybersecurity expertise without that price tag, and the government covers most of the cost.
Under the programme, an approved consultant will:
The programme is part of the broader SG Cyber Safe initiative, which is CSA's effort to raise cybersecurity standards across Singapore businesses of all sizes.
To be eligible for the co-funding support, your business generally needs to meet the following criteria:
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Business registration | Registered and operating in Singapore |
| Company size | Qualifies as an SME under standard Singapore definitions |
| Engagement | Must engage a CSA-approved CISOaaS provider |
| Application | Apply through the IMDA CTOaaS portal |
If your business is registered in Singapore, has fewer than 200 employees or annual revenue under S$100 million, and you have not already received CISOaaS funding for the same scope, there is a very good chance you qualify. The fastest way to confirm is to reach out to Evvo Labs for a free eligibility check.
This is the question most business owners want answered first, and fair enough.
The cost depends on the size of your business, specifically how many endpoints (computers, laptops, servers, mobile devices) you have. The government co-funds up to 70% of the consultancy fees, so what you pay at the end is a fraction of the full engagement cost.
To get a clear picture of what the net cost looks like for your specific business size, get in touch with EvvoLabs for a no-obligation eligibility check. We will give you a straight answer based on your actual setup.
A lot of SME owners ask this question and it is a fair one. You are not just paying for a report that sits in a drawer. The engagement is structured around making real, measurable improvements to your cybersecurity.
Here is what a typical CISOaaS engagement looks like:
The five domains covered under Cyber Essentials are Assets, Secure, Update, Backup, and Respond. Think of them as the five fundamentals of business cybersecurity. Not exotic, not complicated, just the basics done properly.
The process is more straightforward than most people expect. Here are the steps:
The whole process typically takes between six and twelve weeks depending on the size of your business and how quickly gaps can be addressed. For smaller businesses with ten to twenty devices, it can be faster.
Can any Singapore SME apply?
Most SMEs qualify. The key requirement is that you are registered and operating in Singapore and engage an approved CSA CISOaaS provider for the work. A quick eligibility check with a provider will confirm your situation.
Does my industry matter?
The programme is open to SMEs across all industries. If you are in a regulated sector like healthcare or financial services, there may be additional programmes available to you as well.
What happens after Cyber Essentials? Can I get Cyber Trust too?
Yes. Cyber Essentials is the foundation. Once you have achieved CE certification, you can progress toward Cyber Trust, which is a more comprehensive risk-based framework. The 70% funding is also available for Cyber Trust engagements.
Is the funding guaranteed?
The funding is subject to eligibility and availability. Applying sooner rather than later is advisable. CSA-approved providers can help you confirm your eligibility before you commit to anything.
A 2026 survey by CSA found that 8 in 10 local organisations experienced at least one cybersecurity incident in the past year. For SMEs, a single breach can mean lost customer data, regulatory penalties, business disruption, and serious reputational damage.
The average cost of a data breach for small businesses in Singapore runs into tens of thousands of dollars. Getting Cyber Essentials certified through this programme costs a fraction of that, and most of it is paid by the government.
There really is not a strong reason to wait on this.
Evvo Labs is a CSA-approved CISOaaS provider. Get in touch for eligibility check and we will walk you through exactly what the engagement involves and what the net cost looks like for your business.