What Cyber Security Specialists does

Cyber Security Specialists (CSS) is a privately held UK cybersecurity consultancy and managed security services provider (MSSP), founded in 2015 by Managing Director Ben Pollard and headquartered in Altrincham, Manchester. The company delivers a portfolio spanning CREST-accredited penetration testing (including threat-led testing and red teaming), managed security services (Cyber Team as a Service / CS 360, Managed SOC, Dark Web Monitoring, Vulnerability Scanning, External Attack Surface Management, Security Awareness Training, and ESET PROTECT-based endpoint protection), consultancy (AI Security, Cyber Maturity Audits aligned to NIST CSF, Cloud Security for AWS/Azure/GCP, Data Protection/GDPR, DevSecOps, Secure Design, and UK Government/CNI specialisation), and certification delivery as an IASME-accredited body (Cyber Essentials, Cyber Essentials Plus, ISO 27001, ISO 42001 AI Management, IASME Cyber Assurance, and Defence Cyber Certification under the UK Ministry of Defence).

The underlying technology stack is built on recognised third-party platforms — notably ESET PROTECT for endpoint defence, market-leading vulnerability scanning engines, and frameworks including OWASP, PCI-DSS, NIST CSF, ISO 27001, NCSC CAF, and DORA — wrapped by certified internal consultancy (OSCP, CREST, CISSP, CHECK Team Leader credentials). There is no proprietary platform or API; delivery is human-led by a team of security consultants, analysts and penetration testers, with a web-based partner portal used for channel ordering rather than integration.

CSS makes money through a mix of professional services (penetration testing, consultancy, and certification projects), recurring managed services (CTaaS, vCISO, Managed SOC, vulnerability scanning), and channel revenue via a Partner Program for MSPs, consultancies, distributors and resellers. Pricing is bespoke and quote-based, with multi-year contracts typical for managed work. Customers span SMEs and start-ups through to enterprise and central/local government, with named logos including the Department for Work and Pensions, St James Place, Modulr, Bilfinger, Rochdale Borough Council and Total Mobile. The go-to-market is hybrid: direct sales supported by content marketing, social media, email and SEO on the demand-generation side, plus a structured partner channel for distribution into mid-market and SMB clients. The company operates primarily in the UK with one documented US engagement (Pepperell, Massachusetts, April 2026).

Name

Cyber Security Specialists

Legal name

Cyber Security Specialists

Website

https://cybersecurityspecialists.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cyber Security Specialists is a UK-based cybersecurity consultancy and MSSP delivering CREST-accredited penetration testing, managed security services (CTaaS, SOC, EASM, dark web monitoring), certification (Cyber Essentials, ISO 27001, ISO 42001, DCC), and security advisory to SMEs, enterprises, and UK Government and CNI clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cyber Security Consultancy and Managed Security Services

NAICS

Other Computer Related Services (541519), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)

akta.pro primary industry

Managed Security Services (MSSP) & 24/7 SOC Operations (BPAKAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Vulnerability Management & Penetration Testing Services (BPAEADAD), Cybersecurity & Identity Consulting (BPAHAEAG), Security Operations Center (SOC) as a Service (BPAEADAB), Security Awareness & Phishing Simulation Managed Services (BPAEADAK)

Keywords

• Penetration testing services
• Managed security services
• Cyber security consultancy
• Cyber essentials certification
• Government cyber security

Headquarters

HQ city

Manchester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Security Consultancy Services: Penetration testing, threat-led testing, red teaming, cyber maturity assessments, cloud security, data protection, DevSecOps, secure design, and UK Government/CNI consultancy services delivered by certified security professionals.
2. Certification Services: Cyber Essentials, Cyber Essentials Plus, IASME Cyber Assurance, ISO 27001, ISO 42001 (AI Management), and Defence Cyber Certification consultancy and certification support services.
3. Managed Security Services: Cyber Team as a Service (CTaaS), Virtual CISO, Virtual DPO, Managed SOC, EASM, Dark Web Monitoring, Vulnerability Scanning, and Security Awareness Training provided as recurring managed services.
4. NHS Secure Email Compliance Services: Advisory services helping healthcare organisations achieve NHS Secure Email Standard (DCB1596) compliance through NHS.net Connect, Microsoft 365, or independent accreditation routes.
5. Partner Program: Revenue share and margin opportunities for MSPs, consultancies, distributors, and resellers delivering Cyber Security Specialists services to their client bases through a dedicated partner portal.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cyber Security Specialists is an independent UK cyber security consultancy and Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP) delivering CREST-accredited penetration testing, managed security services (CTaaS, Managed SOC, Dark Web Monitoring, EASM, Vulnerability Scanning, Endpoint Protection via ESET PROTECT, Security Awareness Training), specialist consultancy (Cyber Maturity Audit, Cloud Security, Data Protection, DevSecOps, Secure Design, AI Security), Virtual CISO/vDPO, and accredited certifications (Cyber Essentials, Cyber Essentials Plus, ISO 27001, ISO 42001, IASME Cyber Assurance, Defence Cyber Certification) to UK SMEs, enterprises, and Government/CNI clients.

Product overview

Cyber Security Specialists is an independent UK-based Cyber Security Consultancy and Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP) offering a portfolio of security consultancy services, managed security services, certifications, and penetration testing. The core managed services include Cyber Team as a Service (CTaaS/CS 360), Managed SOC, Dark Web Monitoring, Vulnerability Scanning, Security Awareness Training, Endpoint Protection (via ESET PROTECT partnership), and External Attack Surface Management. Their consultancy offerings span AI Security, Cyber Maturity Audits, Cloud Security, Data Protection, DevSecOps, Secure Design, and UK Government/CNI specialisations. They provide CREST-accredited penetration testing, threat-led testing, and red teaming services. As an accredited certification body, they deliver Cyber Essentials, Cyber Essentials Plus, ISO 27001, ISO 42001, IASME Cyber Assurance, and Defence Cyber Certification. The company also operates a Partner Program enabling MSPs and resellers to deliver their services through a dedicated partner portal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cyber Team as a Service (CTaaS / CS 360) Comprehensive fully managed cyber security service providing clients with strong internal cyber security capability without hiring dedicated security personnel, combining internationally recognised security standards with best-of-breed training and technology platforms.
• Dark Web Monitoring 24/7/365 human and machine-powered monitoring service that uncovers compromised credentials and potential threats in real time by scanning the entire dark web including hidden chat rooms and black market sites.
• Vulnerability Scanning Managed vulnerability scanning service using market-leading scanning engines combined with highly trained security consultants to expose and prioritise the most relevant security gaps covering websites, external and internal networks, and cloud environments.
• Security Awareness Training Security awareness and simulated phishing training solution that transforms organisational users into a first line of defence for identifying, avoiding, and reporting sophisticated cyber attacks.
• Managed SOC Managed Security Operations Centre service providing continuous security monitoring and incident response capabilities.
• Endpoint Protection (ESET PROTECT) Multi-layered security against targeted attacks, fileless attacks, and zero-day threats using the ESET PROTECT cloud-based platform covering endpoints, servers, mobiles, email, web, and cloud applications, including advanced protection for Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace, vulnerability scanning, and automatic patching.
• External Attack Surface Management (EASM) Provides a cyber criminal's view of an organisation's entire external attack surface, showing current exposure online including files, credentials, and company emails graded by risk with remediation actions outlined by cyber researchers.
• CREST Penetration Testing CREST-accredited penetration testing services conducted in accordance with industry-recognised standards such as CREST, OWASP, and PCI-DSS, covering web applications, APIs, mobile apps, external/internal infrastructure, cloud platforms, VoIP/WebRTC, source code reviews, firewall configurations, and simulated phishing.
• Threat Led Testing Threat-contextual security exercise that simulates attacks based on realistic adversary behaviour and specific business risk scenarios, assessing how well people, processes, and technologies prevent, detect, and respond to threats.
• Red Teaming Most comprehensive offensive security assessment emulating persistent, resourceful attackers with objective-based testing using wide-ranging tactics, techniques, and procedures across cyber, social, and physical vectors without disclosure to defenders.
• Virtual CISO (vCISO) Virtual Chief Information Security Officer service providing executive-level security leadership and strategic guidance without the cost of a full-time hire.
• Virtual DPO (vDPO) Virtual Data Protection Officer service providing data protection expertise and GDPR compliance guidance.
• AI Security Specialised consultancy services for AI security, helping organisations secure AI systems and address AI-specific threats and risk management.
• Cyber Maturity Audit Cyber Security Maturity Assessment evaluating organisational resilience aligned to the NIST Cyber Security Framework, providing comprehensive risk assessment documented in a Cyber Security Maturity Report with recommendations.
• Cloud Security Consultancy services for securing cloud environments including AWS, Azure, and GCP platforms.
• Cyber Security Consultancy General cyber security consultancy services covering on-premise, cloud, and operational technology environments.
• Data Protection Data protection and GDPR compliance consultancy services.
• DevSecOps Security integration services for development and operations workflows, including CI/CD pipeline security.
• Secure Design Security-by-design consultancy services including threat modelling and secure architecture reviews.
• UK Government & CNI Consultancy Specialised consultancy services for UK Government and Critical National Infrastructure organisations.
• Partner Program Partner program enabling MSPs, consultancies, distributors, and resellers to deliver Cyber Essentials Plus certification, CREST Penetration Testing, Cyber Maturity Audits, ISO 27001, and Defence Cyber Certification to their clients through a dedicated partner portal.
• Cyber Essentials Government-backed certification scheme helping organisations protect against common cyber attacks through five technical controls.
• Cyber Essentials Plus Higher-level government-backed certification with independent security assessment verifying security controls are in place and working effectively through simulated real-world hacking attacks.
• ISO 42001 International standard for Artificial Intelligence Management System (AIMS) providing a framework for developing, deploying, and managing AI systems ethically and responsibly.
• IASME Cyber Assurance Cyber assurance certification offering a comprehensive assessment of organisational cyber security controls.
• Defence Cyber Certification Cyber security certification framework designed for UK Defence suppliers under the MOD's DCC scheme, assessing organisations against four levels of cyber maturity from Level 0 (Basic) to Level 3 (Expert).
• NHS Secure Email Compliance (DCB1596) Advisory services helping healthcare organisations achieve NHS Secure Email Standard (DCB1596) compliance through NHS.net Connect, Microsoft 365, or independent accreditation routes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Organisations certified to Cyber Essentials scheme are protected against 80% of most common internet threats

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• ESETcoreTechnology or IntegrationCyber Security Specialists is an approved ESET Partner providing ESET PROTECT endpoint protection solutions. Services include fully managed endpoint protection services or product licences for organisations with in-house IT and security teams. ESET PROTECT provides cloud-based multilayered security against targeted attacks, fileless attacks, and zero-day threats using cloud sandbox technology.
• Managed Service Providers (MSPs)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner Program for MSPs, consultancies, distributors, and resellers providing high-margin, high-value partner-ready cybersecurity services. Partners gain access to dedicated account management, exclusive partner pricing, sales and marketing collateral, and a partner portal for ordering, tracking, and support ticket management.
• CRESTcoreTechnology or IntegrationCREST accreditation for penetration testing services demonstrating internationally recognised standards for methodology, processes, and reporting quality in security testing.
• UK Government (Crown Supplier)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial supplier to UK Government for cybersecurity services with Crown Supplier status, allowing delivery of security consultancy services to government agencies and CNI operators.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Titania: Titania is a UK-based cybersecurity firm providing compliance auditing, pen testing and managed security services to defence, government and enterprise — comparable in customer mix (including defence sector) and certification-led positioning.
• ECSC Group: ECSC Group is a UK-listed cybersecurity services provider specialising in managed security, penetration testing, and consulting to mid-market and enterprise clients — a close analogue in scale, geography and service portfolio to Cyber Security Specialists.
• Hedgehog Security: Hedgehog Security is a UK cybersecurity consultancy offering penetration testing, managed security and compliance services to SMEs and mid-market — a similarly sized, UK-domestic direct peer with overlapping pen testing and managed service offerings.
• Cyberis: Cyberis is a UK-based cybersecurity consultancy offering penetration testing, managed detection and response, and security advisory — competing in the same SME-to-enterprise UK segments with overlapping CREST-accredited capabilities.
• Bridewell: Bridewell is a UK-based cybersecurity consultancy and MSSP offering penetration testing, managed SOC, CREST-accredited services and security consulting across CNI, government and enterprise — directly comparable to Cyber Security Specialists' service mix and target customer segments.
• Bulletproof (Cyber Security): Bulletproof is a UK-focused cybersecurity services and managed security provider offering pen testing, compliance and SOC services — a comparable mid-market UK MSSP competing for many of the same SME and enterprise clients.
• Pentest Ltd: Pentest Ltd is a UK CREST-accredited penetration testing specialist serving enterprise and government clients, with services and target customers that materially overlap Cyber Security Specialists' testing practice.

Broad incumbents

• NCC Group: NCC Group is a large, listed UK cybersecurity consultancy providing penetration testing, managed detection and response, and source code review across global enterprise and government — overlapping capabilities but at significantly greater scale and geographic reach.
• WithSecure (formerly F-Secure): WithSecure is an established European cybersecurity firm offering managed security, consulting and penetration testing — a broader incumbent with overlapping MSSP and advisory capabilities, but a wider portfolio and international footprint.

Others

• IASME Consortium: IASME is the UK certification body behind Cyber Essentials, Cyber Essentials Plus and IASME Cyber Assurance — an adjacent ecosystem participant whose standards and certification framework underpin a core part of Cyber Security Specialists' certification revenue.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CyberSS_UK
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@CyberSecuritySpecialists
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cyber-security-specialists/?originalSubdomain=uk

Compliance12 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cyber Security Specialists