Best Fractional Chief Information Security Officer Services in UK

UK Outsourced Chief Information Security Officer Agencies

Looking for high-impact Fractional CISO Services in the UK? Whether you're a scale-up navigating complex IT systems, a SaaS company needing a trusted transformation leader, or a mature organisation facing legacy infrastructure risks, this guide is for you.

Welcome to Digital Reference’s editorial series on standout outsourced, part-time, and virtual Chief Information Security Officer services. In this edition, we focus on UK-based CISO agencies and consultants delivering transformative value without the full-time overhead.

You’ll find not just company names, but real leaders behind them. We dive into their philosophies, frameworks, and what makes each one a trusted partner for growth-focused companies.

How We Curated This List - Fractional CISO Services

This list was compiled through independent research, peer referrals, and verified UK market presence. Providers were selected based on:

• ✅ Client testimonials and track record
• ✅ UK-based operations and service footprint
• ✅ Strategic alignment with growth, innovation, or digital transformation
• ✅ Transparent leadership with accessible LinkedIn or public bios
• ✅ Specialty in fractional or outsourced CIO service models
  
  

At Digital Reference, we value radical authenticity. Every spotlight here celebrates real results, not buzzwords.

Fractional CISO Service Providers 🔦 Provider Spotlights

Incursion Cyber Security

🔗 Website: https://incursion-security.co.uk/

What they do:
Incursion offers technical cybersecurity, strategy advisory, and virtual CIO/CISO services to a range of UK clients, especially those in finance, critical infrastructure, and government sectors. Their delivery style is hands-on, investigative, and unapologetically sharp.

Who they work with:
SMEs, defence contractors, and government suppliers—organisations that can’t afford to miss a risk signal.

Operating model:
They blend tactical red team exercises with long-term advisory—perfect for companies who want one provider that can both test systems and fix strategic gaps.

💡 Why they stand out:

• Extensive experience working on classified government engagements
• Deep technical understanding beyond board-level talk
• Agile service delivery that scales across regions
• Offers both CISO and CIO fractional leadership

Gareth Paterson, Founder, Incursion Cyber Security

🔗 LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/gareth-paterson

With a background in military intelligence and offensive security, Gareth brings a strategic-military lens to IT leadership. He’s held key roles within both UK and international cyber operations, and is known for integrating proactive threat modelling into enterprise decision-making. Gareth also mentors rising cybersecurity leaders and remains active in technical research circles.

Boardman

🔗 Website: https://www.boardman.com/

What they do:
Boardman is a boutique consultancy offering fractional CISO and CTO services, digital transformation oversight, and vendor negotiation strategy. They speak the language of boardrooms and engineers, rare and valuable.

Who they work with:
Mid-market firms, often PE-backed or family-owned, that need operational efficiency and scalable systems design.

Operating model:
They run with a light-touch, high-trust model ideal for businesses needing help navigating M&A tech risk or enterprise upgrades without bringing on a full-time CTO.

💡 Why they stand out:

• Deep understanding of both legacy tech and cloud-first architectures
• Proven track record of cost-saving tech reorganisations
• Values-driven and delivery-focused without over-engineering solutions
  
  

Ross Boardman, Founder, Boardman

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossboardman

Ross brings over 25 years of CISO experience across global blue-chip companies and fast-scaling startups. He has a reputation for rescuing complex IT projects from the brink, and his LinkedIn presence reflects his no-BS, strategic pragmatism. A frequent board advisor and author of several whitepapers, Ross is also a strong advocate for boardroom-level technology fluency.

iSoft

🔗 Website: https://i-soft.uk/

What they do:
iSoft provides tailored CIO, CISO, and IT compliance advisory services with a unique focus on ISO27001 readiness and operational security.

Who they work with:
Highly regulated sectors healthcare, fintech, insurance, and even charities with complex data workflows.

Operating model:
iSoft’s model is both compliance-focused and transformation-minded—an ideal mix for organisations balancing innovation with governance.

💡 Why they stand out:

• Clear specialization in security-integrated IT leadership
• Holistic services covering IT planning, security, and digital maturity
• Strong emphasis on frameworks like NIST, CIS Controls, and ISO27001
  
  

Meet Imran Rasheed, Founder, iSoft

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/imranciso/?originalSubdomain=uk

Imran is a seasoned virtual CIO/CISO with an uncommon depth in both enterprise governance and SME agility. With over 15 years of leadership experience, he helps organisations get “audit-ready and breach-resistant” while aligning IT systems to business goals. He’s a respected speaker on cybersecurity maturity and shares clear, insightful updates with his network.

Neon Circle

🔗 Website: https://www.neoncircle.co.uk/

What they do:
Neon Circle offers digital risk advisory, virtual CIO/CISO leadership, and people-focused cyber strategy—with a strong emphasis on behaviour, not just tech.

Who they work with:
High-growth tech companies, education bodies, and SMEs transitioning through digital scaling.

Operating model:
They prioritise human-centred cyber leadership—less jargon, more collaboration. Their services sit at the intersection of people, policy, and platform.

💡 Why they stand out:

• Gender-inclusive cyber leadership that prioritises empathy and clarity
• Educational and training-forward approach
• Recognised for leadership in awareness, not just infrastructure
  
  

Chelsea Jarvie, Founder, Neon Circle

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelseajarvie

Chelsea is a rising voice in the UK cyber leadership space. With a background in behavioural security and strategy, she’s built Neon Circle as a people-first alternative to traditional, compliance-heavy consultancies. Chelsea’s LinkedIn presence is lively, transparent, and often discusses mental health in tech, reinforcing her position as a radically authentic leader.

Rougemont Security

🔗 Website: https://rougemontsecurity.com/

What they do:
Rougemont offers strategic security and virtual CISO/CIO services with a strong track record in risk management and digital transformation.

Who they work with:
Private equity-backed firms, critical infrastructure clients, and high-risk enterprises needing seasoned leadership.

Operating model:
A mix of fractional engagement and project-specific mandates, Rougemont is flexible and discreet, ideal for sensitive transitions or high-risk environments.

💡 Why they stand out:

• Proven work in critical incident management
• Strategic yet tactical support for C-suite and board-level stakeholders
• Blends business-first IT governance with real-world threat awareness
  
  

Chris Cooper, Founder, Rougemont Security

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chriscooperuk

Chris is a veteran virtual CIO/CISO who brings deep public and private sector insight into every engagement. He’s trusted for his calm, data-backed decision frameworks, and his ability to deliver under pressure. With a background in law enforcement and corporate security, Chris commands both boardroom respect and ground-level execution.

SecQuest

🔗 Website: https://www.secquest.co.uk/

What they do:
SecQuest delivers penetration testing, red teaming, and virtual CIO/CISO support. They’re highly technical, vendor-agnostic, and security-first.

Who they work with:
Primarily regulated businesses with compliance needs (PCI, ISO, NIS) think fintech, retail, and government contractors.

Operating model:
Hybrid delivery offering point-in-time audits, retainer-based virtual leadership, and on-demand IT security strategy.

💡 Why they stand out:

• Pure-play security focus with CIO-level integration
• Strong emphasis on ethical hacking and real-time remediation
• Offers ongoing virtual CIO service layered with red team testing
  
  

Paul Marsh, Founder, SecQuest

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-marsh-m0eyt-57a13

Paul is a CISSP and OSCP-certified expert with decades of experience in the UK’s most critical security environments. He balances strategic boardroom thinking with deep hands-on security acumen. Known in the security community for rigorous testing standards, Paul frequently trains new red teamers and writes about adversarial mindset in leadership.

Privacy Helper

🔗 Website: https://www.privacyhelper.co.uk/

What they do:
Privacy Helper supports small and mid-sized UK businesses with practical, accessible guidance on GDPR compliance, data protection regulations, and information security best practices. Acting in a fractional or retained Chief Information Security Officer capacity, they help organisations build privacy-by-design processes, draft clear data policies, train internal teams, and reduce risk exposure. Their services are designed to demystify legal obligations and make compliance a proactive, business-enabling function—not a reactive burden. 

Who they work with:
SMEs, nonprofits, and founder-led teams needing compliance confidence.

Operating model:
Affordable, fixed-fee services designed to embed privacy into everyday processes.

💡 Why they stand out:

• Simplifies GDPR for teams without legal departments
• Known for training, coaching, and low-jargon policies
• Strong advocate of privacy by design
  
  

Andy Chesterman, Founder, Privacy Helper

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-chesterman-261bb26/

Andy has built his reputation on trust and clarity. A former compliance lead turned founder, he’s helped hundreds of companies navigate GDPR without fear. His philosophy? Privacy shouldn’t be a blocker, it should be a business strength.

Fifty One Degrees

🔗 Website: https://www.51d.co/

What they do:
Fifty One Degrees provides fractional CIO/CISO leadership, secure digital transformation services, and risk-aligned advisory. They're a trusted partner to leaders scaling fast but safely.

Who they work with:
Mid-sized businesses, particularly those needing scalable Microsoft 365, Azure, or cloud migration leadership with built-in compliance.

Operating model:
They focus on embedding with leadership teams, aligning digital strategy to business objectives not just IT to-do lists.

💡 Why they stand out:

• Security-integrated digital transformation expertise
• Strong vendor network and cloud ecosystem fluency
• Frequent partner in board-level cyber risk exercises
  
  

Nick Harding, Founder, Fifty One Degrees

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-harding-02716a54

Nick brings a rich mix of technology, risk, and executive leadership. With roles spanning Head of IT, CISO, and senior security strategist, he’s seen every side of the digital maturity curve. Nick is known for making cloud-first transformation actually secure, and his client feedback regularly highlights his calm, structured communication style.

Final Thoughts: Why Fractional CISOs Matter More Than Ever

In a landscape shaped by constant tech shifts, fractional CIOs offer more than just budget-friendly leadership; they provide strategic velocity. The UK-based professionals featured here are:

• ✅ Deeply embedded in client missions
• ✅ Transparent in their frameworks and results
• ✅ Trusted for both strategic planning and operational stability
  
  

At Digital Reference, we believe in showcasing leaders who deliver with radical authenticity. These are not just outsourced experts—they are embedded partners shaping the future of technology.

Stay tuned for more regional spotlights on fractional CXO services because leadership should be visible, verifiable, and values-aligned.