What Security Watchdog does

Security Watchdog is a UK-based background screening provider founded in 1998 and now operating as part of the Team Matrix portfolio following its 2023 acquisition from Capita. The company processes more than 850,000 DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks per year and over 1 million total checks annually, serving 30,000+ clients that span small and medium businesses, large enterprises, and the UK public sector, including named relationships with the Home Office, Ofsted, NHS Trusts, and schools. Security Watchdog is one of only 14 BSCC-Accredited Screening Providers globally, and holds ISO 9001, ISO 27001, BS7858, and IAA registrations.

The company's core technology consists of two proprietary platforms. eBulkPlus handles high-volume DBS and Disclosure Scotland processing and has been licensed to other Registered Bodies, making Security Watchdog the first Registered Body to become an e-broker for DBS digital identity checks. VOLTi4 is the company's automated onboarding and screening software, offering a mobile-first candidate experience, OCR-driven document capture, and Public APIs that integrate with Workday, Equifax, Power BI, and TrustID to embed screening inside client HR and analytics workflows.

Revenue is generated through a tiered, per-check pricing model. Standard DBS checks start at £32, with higher tiers for Standard, Enhanced, and Vulnerable Adults checks, plus BPSS packages at £142.50 and executive packages up to £272.50. Enterprise clients running 200 or more checks per year access volume-tiered pricing, while SMB clients transact on a pay-as-you-go basis. Additional revenue streams include Digital Identity and Right to Work checks, Advisory Bureau professional services, and eBulkPlus white-label licensing to other Registered Bodies, with public sector go-to-market supported by positions on the Crown Commercial Service, SUPC, APUC, and ESPO frameworks.

Name

Security Watchdog

Legal name

Sec Watchdog Ltd

Website

https://securitywatchdog.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Security Watchdog is a UK background screening provider processing over 1 million checks annually for 30,000+ SMB, enterprise, and public sector clients, offering DBS checks, digital identity verification, and HR-integrated screening APIs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Background Screening Services

NAICS

Investigation and Personal Background Check Services (561611)

SIC

Services-Detective, Guard & Armored Car Services (7381)

akta.pro primary industry

Criminal Background Checks (National/State/County) (BPACALAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Continuous Monitoring & Post-Hire Screening (BPACALAJ)

Keywords

• Background screening services
• Pre-employment screening
• DBS check services
• Criminal record checks
• Employment risk consultancy

Headquarters

HQ city

Alton

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Pay-per-candidate screening: One-time transaction fees for individual background screening checks. Employers purchase screening packages on a pay-as-you-go basis. Suitable for organisations needing fewer than 50 checks per year. Packages range from Low Risk (£92.50) to High Risk (£272.50), BPSS (£142.50), and individual DBS checks (£32). Volume discounts apply for organisations ordering more than 50 checks.
2. Volume/organisational DBS and criminal record checks: Tiered pricing for organisations ordering 200+ checks per year. Basic DBS from £37.50–£44 per check; Standard DBS from £38.50–£45; Enhanced DBS from £65.50–£71.50. Prices decrease with volume. Organisations can choose self-service platform or fully managed service.
3. Digital Identity and Right to Work checks: Digital Right to Work in UK check as standalone service: £4.00 + VAT per applicant. Combined Digital Right to Work + Digital DBS ID Check: £6.00 + VAT per applicant.
4. Advisory Bureau professional services: Employment risk consultancy services including reputational due diligence, immigration consultancy (IAA registered), and Online Vulnerability Assessments. Billed as professional services engagement.
5. eBulkPlus licensing to third-party Registered Bodies: Security Watchdog is the first Registered Body (RB) to become an approved e-broker, allowing other Registered Bodies to host the eBulkPlus solution while retaining their RB status with the DBS. Generates licensing revenue from third-party RB adoption.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Security Watchdog is a UK-based background screening provider that delivers DBS/criminal record checks, pre-employment screening, digital identity verification, reference checks, social media checks, moonlighting checks, and employment risk consultancy. Service delivery is powered by two proprietary technology platforms: eBulkPlus (handling 850,000+ DBS checks annually) and VOLTi4 (mobile-first onboarding software with automated workflows). The company serves both employers and individual applicants with tiered volume-based pricing and dedicated account management.

Product overview

Security Watchdog (Matrix Security Watchdog) is a background screening provider offering a unified platform-plus-modules architecture. The core technology stack consists of eBulkPlus (proprietary DBS and criminal record checking platform handling 850,000+ checks annually) and VOLTi4 (automated onboarding and pre-employment screening software). These are supplemented by modular services including Reference Checks, Digital Identity Checks (via TrustID partnership), Social and Media Checks, The Advisory Bureau (risk consultancy including reputational due diligence, immigration services, and vulnerability assessments), and Moonlighting Checks (open banking-based multi-employment verification). The company offers tiered pay-per-candidate packages (Low Risk, Medium Risk, High Risk, BPSS, Social Media) and a Build Your Own option, serving over 30,000 clients across government, NHS, education, and private sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• VOLTi4: Automated onboarding software which makes light work of the pre-employment screening process for managers, employees and new recruits.
• eBulkPlus
• The Advisory Bureau (TAB)

Products and services

• eBulkPlus Proprietary screening technology delivering DBS and Disclosure Scotland checks electronically, handling over 850,000 checks per year with data validation reducing errors to 0.01%. Fully approved and accredited by the DBS and Ministry of Justice; available to UK Government departments, NHS trusts, schools, retailers, and licensed to third-party Registered Bodies.
• VOLTi4 Automated onboarding and pre-employment screening software with mobile-first design and configurable branding. Uses Optical Character Recognition for document data capture and partners with Equifax, Microsoft Power BI, and Workday. Average 5.3-minute form completion with 99% candidate completion rate.
• DBS and Criminal Background Checks Digital criminal background checking service providing Basic, Standard, and Enhanced DBS checks along with Disclosure Scotland and Access NI services. Powered by eBulkPlus technology. Volume tiered pricing available for organisations ordering 200+ checks per year.
• Pre-Employment Screening Comprehensive pre-employment screening service with over 50 available checks including identity verification, right to work, criminality, employment history, qualifications, and references. Tailored packages scalable to business needs with results delivered in as quick as 48 hours.
• Reference Checks Comprehensive reference verification service including employment background, education verification, activity gap verification, express referencing via open banking, professional memberships and qualifications verification, and CV verification.
• Digital Identity Checks Fast online identity verification service in partnership with TrustID combining identity document verification, facial matching technology, fraud checks, and address verification. Supports DBS identity verification and standalone Right to Work checks.
• Social and Media Checks Online behaviour evaluation tools that fairly and objectively assess candidates' digital presence based on 7 key Index measures over 2, 3, 5, or 10 year periods. Covers brand/reputation-damaging content, illegal activities, proscribed organisations, activist groups, adverse media, and CV validation.
• The Advisory Bureau (Employment Risk Consultancy) Industry-leading employment risk consultancy offering reputational due diligence on companies and executives, immigration consultancy (IAA registered), and Online Vulnerability Assessments for high-risk roles. Billed as professional services engagement.
• Moonlighting Check Multi-occupation screening assessment using Open Banking to verify individual employment and income details. Identifies secondary employers and ensures GDPR compliance for managing employee moonlighting risks.
• Pay-Per-Candidate Screening Packages Pay-as-you-go screening packages for employers screening fewer than 50 candidates per year, including pre-built Low Risk, Medium Risk, High Risk, BPSS, and Social Media packages plus a Build Your Own customisable option.
• Basic DBS Checks for Individuals Self-service Basic DBS check application for individuals requiring criminal record checks for employment, volunteering, or personal use. Includes digital identity verification via TrustID or Post Office document sighting.
• Self-Employed Enhanced DBS Checks Enhanced or Enhanced with Barred List DBS check application service for self-employed professionals working with children, adults, or vulnerable groups. Includes digital identity check via biometric passport.
• Background Check API Integration Public SOAP/Rest APIs (eBulkPlus and VOLTi4 Developer Portal) enabling clients to connect their HR/recruitment systems for automated criminality screening requests, case creation, real-time status updates, response controls, candidate withdrawal, and document downloads. Workday integration available out-of-the-box.

Quantifiable outcome

• Average screening form completion time of 5.3 minutes; 99% of candidates complete screening; 4-star satisfaction rate
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• WorkdaycoreTechnology or IntegrationIntegration between VOLTi4 pre-employment screening platform and Workday Enterprise Management Cloud. Allows connection to a client's Workday 'instance' to retrieve candidate details needing screening and provide up-to-date case status and individual check updates. Out-of-the-box integration requires minimal configuration.
• TrustIDcoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership with TrustID, a GOV.UK certified Identity Service Provider (IDSP). Integration connects eBulkPlus to TrustID for digital identity checks and Right to Work verification. TrustID is on the GOV.UK list of certified IDSPs for DBS checks and Right to Work checks.
• EquifaxcoreTechnology or IntegrationVOLTi4 partners with Equifax as one of its world-leading data providers for background screening checks.
• Microsoft Power BIcoreTechnology or IntegrationVOLTi4 integrates with Microsoft Power BI to provide reporting flexibility within the client portal. Managers can track and analyse screening case status and individual check progress.
• DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service)coreTechnology or IntegrationInternal API integration connecting eBulkPlus to the UK Government DBS for criminality screening in England and Wales. Fully approved and accredited by the DBS.
• Disclosure ScotlandcoreTechnology or IntegrationInternal API integration connecting eBulkPlus to Disclosure Scotland for criminality screening in Scotland.
• Professional Background Screening Association (PBSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMatrix Security Watchdog is an active member of PBSA. COO Susie Thomson serves as Secretary and Treasurer of the PBSA Global Board (2024-2025 term). Company was among the first screening providers to receive BSCC accreditation. Works closely with PBSA to ensure services are aligned with best practices.
• MatrixcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSecurity Watchdog is part of the Matrix group (teammatrix.com). Matrix is a UK-based workforce management solutions provider. Security Watchdog was sold to Capita plc in 2012 and then to Matrix in 2023. Susie Thomson now oversees service delivery across Matrix group operations. Matrix's mission is connecting people to work with 100% compliance through innovative screening technology.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• UCheck: UCheck is a UK-based DBS Umbrella Body providing Basic, Standard, and Enhanced DBS checks alongside identity verification, directly competing with Security Watchdog's eBulkPlus in the same regulated workflow.
• Veremark: Veremark is a UK-based, tech-enabled background screening provider offering employment, criminal, and reference checks with a similar self-serve/enterprise hybrid GTM to Security Watchdog, making it a direct UK peer.
• Personnel Checks: Personnel Checks is a UK-based DBS Umbrella Body and pre-employment screening provider offering Basic, Standard, and Enhanced DBS plus identity verification services directly comparable to Security Watchdog's core offering.

Others

• TrustID: TrustID is a GOV.UK-certified Identity Service Provider (IDSP) and a current technology partner of Security Watchdog; it is an ecosystem enabler that could also become a competing identity-verification-led screening offering.

Emerging players

• Onfido: Onfido is a UK-founded digital identity verification provider whose document and biometric ID checks compete with Security Watchdog's TrustID-powered digital identity offering in Right to Work and DBS ID verification flows.

Broad incumbents

• Reed Screening: Reed Screening is part of Reed, a major UK recruitment group, offering DBS and pre-employment screening to its recruitment clients; it competes with Security Watchdog for mid-market and enterprise UK volume.
• HireRight: HireRight is a global background screening provider serving enterprises across regulated industries, directly overlapping Security Watchdog in criminal, employment, and identity checks but at significantly larger scale and broader geographic footprint.
• First Advantage: First Advantage is one of the largest global background screening companies, offering criminal, employment, and identity verification services comparable to Security Watchdog's eBulkPlus and VOLTi4 product set.
• Checkr: Checkr is a US-headquartered, technology-led background screening platform with API-first delivery and modern candidate UX; it is a direct competitive analogue to eBulkPlus/VOLTi4 and is expanding internationally, including into the UK.
• Sterling: Sterling is a global background screening and identity verification provider serving enterprise and SMB clients with comparable criminal, employment, and right-to-work checks, competing in the UK alongside Security Watchdog.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/security-watchdog

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Security Watchdog