Guides and analysis

Guides and analysis from the people who deliver the work

Enterprise architecture insights, Cyber Essentials guides, ISO 27001 checklists and EU AI Act briefings, written in plain English by the advisers who deliver the engagements. Every article names its author and shows the date it was last reviewed.

Practice 01 / 05

Enterprise Architecture & Technology Strategy

Operating models, frameworks and the decisions that come before spend, for CIOs and technology leaders.

The practice behind these guides
Practice 02 / 05

Cyber, ISO & Supplier Assurance

Cyber Essentials, ISO 27001 and supplier assurance, written by people who assess for a living.

The practice behind these guides
More in this practice

How long does ISO 27001 take? Realistic timelines

11 July 2026 · 5 min read

ISO 27001 certification process: gap analysis to certificate

11 July 2026 · 6 min read

IASME Cyber Assurance explained: levels, costs and how it compares

10 July 2026 · 5 min read

ISO 27001 cost UK: what certification really costs (2026)

10 July 2026 · 6 min read

How to answer customer security questionnaires (without losing a week)

9 July 2026 · 6 min read

How to assess supplier AI risk (before it becomes an incident)

9 July 2026 · 6 min read

Cyber Essentials vs ISO 27001 vs IASME Cyber Assurance: which do you need?

9 July 2026 · 6 min read

Cyber Essentials for small businesses: what it is, why it matters, and how to get certified

25 March 2026 · 9 min read

Cyber Essentials questionnaire guide: how to answer every question (UK 2026)

24 March 2026 · 14 min read

Common Cyber Essentials failures (and how to avoid them)

24 March 2026 · 9 min read

Cyber Essentials controls explained (all 5) – UK guide

24 March 2026 · 10 min read

Cyber Essentials requirements explained (UK 2026 guide)

24 March 2026 · 9 min read

Cyber Essentials Plus: what it is, who needs it, what it costs, and how to pass

23 March 2026 · 10 min read

How to pass Cyber Essentials first time (UK step-by-step guide)

23 March 2026 · 9 min read

Cyber Essentials cost UK: full pricing breakdown (2026 guide)

23 March 2026 · 10 min read

Cyber Essentials 2026: key changes and what they mean for SMEs

23 March 2026 · 11 min read

Cyber Essentials vs ISO 27001: when you need one, both, and in what order

23 March 2026 · 10 min read

ISO 27001 readiness assessment checklist (UK)

8 December 2025 · 11 min read
Practice 03 / 05

AI Governance & Assurance

What the EU AI Act asks of you, how ISO 42001 fits, and how to keep AI under control without stopping the business.

The practice behind these guides

The people who write these deliver the work

Every guide on this page comes from live engagements: certifications assessed, architectures reviewed, AI systems brought under governance. If an article raises a question about your organisation, ask the person who wrote it.

Talk to a senior adviser

+44 20 3985 5809  ·  info@intelance.co.uk

Questions readers ask

Intelance publishes plain English guides and analysis across its five practice areas: enterprise architecture and technology strategy, cyber, ISO and supplier assurance, AI governance, data governance, and technology, delivery and M&A assurance. The articles are written for the people who have to make decisions: CIOs, CISOs, IT managers and the owners of UK businesses.

The advisers who deliver the work. Intelance is a senior only advisory and assurance firm and an IASME licensed certification body, so the certification guides are written by people who assess for a living and the architecture guides by practising enterprise architects. Every article carries the name of its author.

Every article shows the date it was last reviewed, and guides are updated when the scheme or standard they describe changes, such as annual Cyber Essentials requirement updates or EU AI Act deadlines. If an article shows a recent review date, its guidance reflects the rules in force.

Start with the problem in front of you. If a customer is asking for certification, start with the Cyber Essentials cost guide. If AI use is running ahead of control, start with the EU AI Act readiness checklist. If you are weighing an architecture decision, start with What Is Enterprise Architecture in 2026. Each guide links to the next step.