The UK’s Top 10 Cyber Security Companies
John McCrea, 12 December 2024
The UK has historically been a place where tech companies thrive, with London and the South East hosting a number of established names including email security giant Mimecast and University of Oxford spinout Darktrace.
Cyber security forms a key component of the UK’s tech sector, with companies ranging from cyber security software developers, through to consultants and managed security service providers (MSSPs).
But whilst cyber security is vital for business continuity in both the private and public sector, it was not until 2017 that the importance of cyber security was thrust into the news cycle. The WannaCry ransomware attack crippled businesses and public services worldwide, including the NHS, and saw staff locked out of entire systems in an instant.
Insurance broker Howden has reported that cyber crime has cost UK businesses over £44bn in the last five years. As a result, businesses are increasingly shoring up their defences in the event of a cyber attack.
In this article, we will explore the value to the UK economy generated by cyber security companies by using our own Gross Value Added (GVA) calculations.
Methodology
To be included in this list, companies must be based in the UK, listed as Active on Companies House, and work in either cyber security or IT managed security services.
This includes companies specialising in endpoint security (antivirus), network security (firewalls), email security, managed IT service providers (MSPs), and channel partners that offer cyber security.
Our top ten cyber security companies are ranked by GVA (Gross Value Added). This means each company is ranked according to the value generated for the UK economy.Â
GVA is calculated as employee wages total + operating profit + depreciation + amortisation.
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The UK’s top 10 cyber security companies
10.
Portswigger
Location: Cheshire East
Gross value added: £28.3m
Incorporated: 2008
North West-based Portswigger is a pentesting (penetration testing) software company that tests the security of web applications.
The company — which also provides cyber security training — raised £88.4m in fundraising in June 2024, has featured in two high-growth lists, and is a 20% scaleup.
With a GVA of £28.3m, Portswigger comes in at number ten on our list.
09.
babble
Location: City of London
Gross value added: £28.7m
Incorporated: 2001
babble, formerly trading as Babble Cloud Limited until 2020, delivers cloud-based tech services to businesses. This includes a range of cyber security solutions including cyber security awareness training and managed IT support.
The business, which has made over 30 acquisitions since 2018, has undergone two MBOs (management buyouts) — in 2017 funded by Lloyds Development Capital (LDC) and 2020 funded by Graphite Capital. Based in the City of London, babble adds £28.7m to the economy in GVA.
08.
6Point6
Location: Manchester
Gross value added: £30.8m
Incorporated: 2012
6Point6, a Manchester-based IT consultancy, delivers IT services with a specific focus on big data and cyber security to businesses. These services include pentesting and incident response management.
The company, a 20% scaleup, was acquired in January 2024 by Accenture. And in 2023, 6Point6 added £30.8m to the UK economy according to our latest data.
07.
Focus Group
Location: Adur
Gross value added: £32.5m
Incorporated: 2003
Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Adur, Focus Group operates across telecommunications, IT maintenance, and internet network provision.
The company offers a range of cyber security services including dark web monitoring, email and endpoint security, and enhanced detection and response.
Focus Group has completed one fundraising round and made ten acquisitions in 2024 alone. Our data has Focus Group’s GVA to the UK economy in 2023 at £32.5m.
06.
S-RM
Location: City of London
Gross value added: £37.1m
Incorporated: 2015
S-RM is a London-based cyber risk consultancy firm offering a range of cyber security services, ranging from crisis response to offensive security programmes that simulate real-world threats.
Spun out from Salamanca Group in 2015, S-RM is a thought leader in the field, publishing a range of articles and reports on cyber resilience and corporate risk management. Valued at £75.8m, the business added £37.1m in GVA to the UK economy based on its latest financial statements.
05.
Ultima
Location: Reading
Gross value added: £37.4m
Incorporated: 2019
Reading-based Ultima offers a wealth of cyber security services, from business continuity through to extended detection and response (XDR). The company also offers a range of cloud-based services, including public, private, and hybrid cloud.
Ultima was acquired by client support and cloud services provider Just After Midnight in 2021, and since then its GVA has grown from £26.7m in 2021 to £37.4m in 2024.
04.
Exponential-e
Location: Tower Hamlets
Gross value added: £149m
Incorporated: 2002
London-based Exponential-e delivers advanced business telecommunications, data centre services, and cyber security solutions. Specialising in cloud computing and digital security, the company empowers businesses with scalable and secure technology infrastructure.
As of January 2024, Exponential-e has achieved a turnover of £237m, supported by a £100k fundraising round and one acquisition. The company has also contributed an impressive £149m to the UK economy in GVA, making it the fourth-biggest contributor on our list.
03.
Darktrace
Location: South Cambridgeshire
Gross value added: £166m
Incorporated: 2013
Based in South Cambridgeshire, Darktrace uses artificial intelligence to autonomously detect and respond to cyber threats, making it a unique player in the SaaS and cyber security industries.
Darktrace has raised £427m across seven fundraising rounds and went public in April 2021, raising £143m in its IPO. The company was acquired by private equity firm Thoma Bravo in October 2024, and has contributed a GVA of £166m to the UK economy.
02.
Softcat
Location: Buckinghamshire
Gross value added: £372m
Incorporated: 1987
Softcat is a giant of the IT reseller market, delivering IT infrastructure with a specialism in data centres, network security services. The company serves businesses via its extensive partner programme and also works with a number of public sector clients.
Softcat underwent significant growth in the early 2010s, appearing on four high growth lists before its IPO on the London Stock Exchange in 2015, which saw the company valued at £472m.
Supported by a turnover of £963m in 2023/24, Softcat added £372m in GVA to the UK economy.
01.
Mimecast
Location: City of London
Gross value added: £2.17b
Incorporated: 2003
Incorporated in 2003, it wasn’t until the 2010s that the London-based email security company up-ended the cyber security market.
Mimecast’s web-based platform not only safeguards email inboxes but also engages users in identifying and mitigating cyber threats, transforming traditional cybersecurity training by empowering end users.
With a total of five equity fundraisings, including its 2015 IPO on the NASDAQ which raised £50.7m, Mimecast tops our list with an extraordinary £2.17b GVA to the UK economy.
Explore cyber security companies on Beauhurst
Whilst all industries have seen a downturn in investment since 2021, as reported in our annual report, The Deal, cyber security is an industry that will only continue to grow.
This is down to the need to adapt constantly to emerging threats from bad actors, state-sponsored hackers, and simple, ‘old-fashioned’ social engineering via phishing.
The 2020s have also seen a number of key tech milestones in the advancement of AI and quantum computing. Both will continue to accelerate growth in productivity, but they also bring entirely new challenges for cyber security teams to adapt to — which is why companies like Darktrace have attracted such interest.
And in a world where hackers are constantly trying to be one step ahead, there will always be cyber security firms developing new, innovative ways of protecting personal and corporate data against such threats.
Whether you’re looking for cyber security companies to invest in, or to partner with, you can find every cyber security company in the UK and Germany on Beauhurst.Â
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