The Willow question set is being retired and replaced by Danzell on 26 October 2026. Here's what that means for your assessment.
If you're already certified on Willow
Nothing changes. Your certificate stays valid until it expires.
If you're going on to Cyber Essentials Plus (CE+), the usual window applies: CE+ must be completed within 90 days of your Cyber Essentials certificate being issued, or within 1 month of your audit date, whichever is sooner.
If your Willow assessment isn't finished
On 26 October, your assessment will move to the Danzell question set and your answers will be carried across. You'll find it on your Certificates page as usual. Where a question is the same in both sets, your answer will already be filled in. Questions that are new or have changed will need answering.
If you'd already started your CE+ pre-audit tasks, that information carries over too, so you won't need to start again.
If you haven't started yet
Your assessment will use the Danzell question set.
If you don't have an active subscription
You'll need an active Cyber Essentials subscription before you can start an assessment on Danzell. If your account is managed by a partner or distributor, contact them. Otherwise, contact your account manager or our Support team.
Finishing on Willow
To finish on Willow, your assessment needs to be certified before 26 October 2026. Submit as early as you can, so there's time to answer any questions from your assessor.
Your previous answers
You can still see your Willow answers by clicking Certificate Timeline on your Certificates page.
What's different in Danzell
For the main changes, see 2026 Certification Changes. Two of the biggest are MFA on every cloud service that offers it (Danzell MFA Guidance) and a second sample during CE+ audits (how double sampling works).
If you have any questions, contact us via live chat or at support@cybersmart.co.uk.