Precursor Security
Precursor Security is a CREST-accredited UK cyber security firm delivering integrated penetration testing, 24/7 managed SOC/MDR, and compliance services to regulated UK sectors including financial services, healthcare, government, and energy.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersLeeds, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Precursor Security does
Precursor Security is a CREST-accredited UK cyber security firm founded in 2018 and headquartered in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The company delivers an integrated portfolio across three service pillars: offensive security (CREST-accredited penetration testing, red team operations, OT/ICS assessments, social engineering), defensive security (24/7 UK-based managed SOC/MDR, threat hunting, incident response, and the EdgeProtect attack surface management service), and compliance (ISO 27001, Cyber Essentials, Cyber Essentials Plus, PCI DSS v4.0 delivered by QSAs, GDPR, and readiness for the UK Cyber Security and Resilience Bill 2025). Its distinguishing technical architecture is a "closed-loop" model in which live SOC threat intelligence from the Newcastle 24/7 facility feeds directly into penetration testing methodology, with each offensive finding mapped to SOC detection rules and vice versa through a unified portal.
The company targets regulated UK sectors, including financial services, healthcare and NHS, government and public sector, legal, education, energy and utilities (Critical National Infrastructure), retail and e-commerce, and property/real estate. Customers range from SMEs seeking Cyber Essentials Plus certifications to enterprise clients requiring DORA, NIS2, FCA/PRA, NCSC CAF, CHECK, and SWIFT CSP alignment. Precursor is one of fewer than 70 firms globally to hold both CREST Penetration Testing and SOC accreditation, and uniquely holds triple CREST accreditation including Vulnerability Assessment; CREST certification is recognised by UK Government and NCSC as the benchmark for cyber service providers. The company has G-Cloud 14 framework supplier status enabling direct public sector procurement and operates UK-based only with no offshoring, with DBS-checked staff and SC-cleared engineers for sensitive engagements.
Revenue is generated through four primary streams: one-time penetration testing engagements (from £2,500 fixed price), recurring managed SOC subscriptions (from £900/month), professional services compliance work (ISO 27001 gap analysis from £3,000), and co-developed partnership products such as AxioSECURE (with Axiologik). The go-to-market combines enterprise field sales through dedicated London and Edinburgh account managers, inside sales via quote and free scoping call CTAs, G-Cloud marketplace listings for public sector, and partner channels. Operations span four UK locations: Leeds headquarters with the CREST pen testing team, the Newcastle 24/7 SOC, London for financial services and government, and Edinburgh for Scottish clients. The company received six-figure investment from the North East Fund (supported by ERDF) in October 2024 to open the Newcastle SOC and reported 50% year-on-year revenue growth alongside the January 2026 Axiologik partnership announcement.
Precursor Security firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Precursor Security
- Legal name
- Precursor Security Ltd
- Website
- https://precursorsecurity.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Precursor Security is a CREST-accredited UK cyber security firm delivering integrated penetration testing, 24/7 managed SOC/MDR, and compliance services to regulated UK sectors including financial services, healthcare, government, and energy.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Precursor Security industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cybersecurity Services
- NAICS
- Security Systems Services (except Locksmiths) (561621), Security Systems Services (56162), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (5415)
- SIC
- Services-Detective, Guard & Armored Car Services (7381), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Managed Detection & Response (MDR) & SOC Services (HDADAGAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Penetration Testing, Red Team & Ethical Hacking (EDAOAIAH), Security Audits & Compliance (ISO 27001, SOC 2, PCI DSS, HIPAA, SOX) (BPAKADAC)
Keywords
Where Precursor Security is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Leeds
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
Precursor Security business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Penetration Testing Services: CREST-accredited penetration testing engagements (network, web application, cloud, mobile, API) and red team operations. Fixed-price quotes after scoping. Retest included. One-time engagements and recurring annual testing.
- Managed SOC and MDR: 24/7 UK-based Security Operations Centre monitoring with human analyst triage on every confirmed threat. Subscription-based monthly billing from £900/month. Includes integration with existing EDR tools (CrowdStrike, Microsoft Defender, Sentinel).
- Compliance and Certification Services: ISO 27001 consultancy, Cyber Essentials certification, PCI DSS v4.0 assessments (QSA-delivered), GDPR data protection, and CSRB 2025 readiness. Cyber Essentials from £1,500, ISO 27001 gap analysis from £3,000.
- Co-developed Product Partnerships: Revenue from joint product development with partners such as the Axiologik AxioSECURE cyber resilience assessment service.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Penetration Testing from £2,500 (fixed price, retest included) |
| Subscription | Monthly | Managed SOC from £900/month |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Cyber Essentials Plus from £2,500 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Energy/OT sector testing from £5,000 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Retail/eCommerce web app testing from £3,750 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Property sector testing from £3,750 |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Precursor Security product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Precursor Security is a CREST-accredited UK cyber security firm delivering three integrated service pillars: offensive security (CREST penetration testing, red team operations, social engineering, OT/ICS assessments), defensive security (24/7 UK-based managed SOC/MDR, threat hunting, incident response, attack surface management), and compliance services (ISO 27001, Cyber Essentials, PCI DSS v4.0, GDPR, and UK Cyber Security and Resilience Bill 2025 readiness). The company operates a closed-loop model where live SOC threat intelligence feeds directly into penetration testing methodology, mapping every finding to regulatory controls.
Product overview
Precursor Security is a CREST-accredited UK cyber security firm offering three integrated service pillars: Offensive Security (penetration testing, red team operations, social engineering, OT/ICS assessments), Defensive Security (24/7 managed SOC/MDR, threat hunting, incident response, EdgeProtect attack surface management), and Compliance Services (ISO 27001, Cyber Essentials, PCI DSS, GDPR, CSRB 2025). The company operates a closed-loop model where SOC threat intelligence feeds directly into penetration testing methodology. Key products include Penetration Testing (from £2,500), Managed SOC (from £900/month), and the AxioSECURE partnership product with Axiologik.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- 3,000+ security assessments delivered
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Precursor Security
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Precursor Security technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature4 records
Precursor Security partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- AxiologikcoreAxiologik and Precursor Security formed a partnership and launched AxioSECURE, a cyber risk and resilience assessment service targeting organisations preparing for the UK's Cyber Security and Resilience Bill. Significant joint demand: Axiologik saw 600% YoY increase in cyber consulting work and Precursor reported 50% revenue increase over the same period. Both companies expect continued interest as the Bill progresses through Parliament.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Precursor Security competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Quorum Cyber: UK-headquartered cyber security firm specialising in managed detection and response with Microsoft-aligned SOC operations. Competes head-to-head with Precursor in UK MDR and incident response.
- Bridewell: UK-based MSSP offering CREST-accredited penetration testing, managed SOC/MDR, and compliance services to regulated sectors. Closest like-for-like competitor in scale and service mix to Precursor.
- Cyberis: UK-based CREST-accredited cyber security firm providing penetration testing, managed SOC, and incident response to enterprise and public-sector clients. Direct comparable in service portfolio and CREST positioning.
- Pentest Ltd: UK-based CREST-accredited penetration testing and managed security services firm serving regulated industries. Direct competitor on pen testing and SOC engagements in the UK mid-market.
Broad incumbents
- Darktrace: UK-headquartered AI-driven cybersecurity firm with major SOC/email/endpoint product suite. Operates a managed SOC-like delivery model but at much greater scale and with proprietary product rather than pure services.
- NCC Group: FTSE-listed UK cyber security firm offering CREST-accredited pen testing, managed SOC, and compliance services globally. Much larger and broader than Precursor but operates in the same regulated UK enterprise segments.
- Sophos: UK-founded global endpoint and managed detection and response provider with MDR services. Larger incumbent in the same MSSP/MDR category serving UK regulated enterprises.
- WithSecure: European-headquartered cybersecurity firm offering managed detection and response plus consulting services. Comparable to Precursor in regulated-market positioning and MDR-led service model.
Emerging players
- eSentire: Pure-play MDR provider delivering 24/7 SOC services globally. Comparable operating model to Precursor's managed SOC but with a US-centric footprint and larger analyst pool.
Others
- Trustwave: Global MSSP delivering managed SOC, penetration testing, and compliance services to enterprises. Operates a UK presence and competes with Precursor in regulated sectors at greater scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Customer concentration
Precursor Security social profiles
Digital presencePrecursor Security compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Precursor Security financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Precursor Security leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Precursor Security funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Precursor Security M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Precursor Security
What does Precursor Security do?
Precursor Security is a CREST-accredited UK cyber security firm delivering three integrated service pillars: offensive security (CREST penetration testing, red team operations, social engineering, OT/ICS assessments), defensive security (24/7 UK-based managed SOC/MDR, threat hunting, incident response, attack surface management), and compliance services (ISO 27001, Cyber Essentials, PCI DSS v4.0, GDPR, and UK Cyber Security and Resilience Bill 2025 readiness). The company operates a closed-loop model where live SOC threat intelligence feeds directly into penetration testing methodology, mapping every finding to regulatory controls.
Is Precursor Security a public or private company?
Precursor Security is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Precursor Security founded?
Precursor Security was founded in 2018. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Precursor Security based?
Precursor Security is headquartered in Leeds, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Precursor Security make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Penetration Testing Services are the primary driver. The others are managed SOC and MDR, compliance and Certification Services and co-developed Product Partnerships.
Who are Precursor Security's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Quorum Cyber, Bridewell, Cyberis and Pentest Ltd. Broad incumbents are Darktrace, NCC Group, Sophos and WithSecure. eSentire is listed as an emerging player. Trustwave is listed as an others.
Does Precursor Security have an API?
No public API is recorded for Precursor Security.
What industry is Precursor Security in?
Precursor Security's product category is Cybersecurity Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDADAGAG, Managed Detection & Response (MDR) & SOC Services, with a secondary code of EDAOAIAH, Penetration Testing, Red Team & Ethical Hacking. Its NAICS code is 561621 and its SIC code is 7381.