CyberSmart

CyberSmart offers a unified cybersecurity platform specifically designed for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Founded in 2016 by Jamie Akhtar and Mariella Rosa Thanner, the company emerged from the GCHQ Cyber Accelerator programme in 2017. Akhtar, the current CEO, has a background as an ethical hacker and CTO for various organizations, and co-founded CyberSmart to address the gap in cybersecurity solutions for small businesses, which constitute the vast majority of the UK economy but are often underserved by enterprise-focused security firms.

The company provides a comprehensive suite of tools that includes continuous monitoring, vulnerability management, compliance automation, security awareness training, and cyber insurance. Its core product, CyberSmart Active Protect, performs regular scans for vulnerabilities, monitors device misconfigurations, and provides real-time alerts with remediation guides. The platform helps businesses achieve and maintain government-backed certifications like Cyber Essentials in a matter of hours, a process that could otherwise take months. It is designed to be accessible for businesses without dedicated IT or security teams, simplifying compliance and protection against over 99% of common cyber threats.

CyberSmart operates on a subscription-based business model, serving over 5,000 businesses and a network of more than 1,000 managed IT provider partners. Clients range across various industries, including healthcare, retail, construction, and finance. The business generates revenue through its platform subscriptions and partnerships with MSPs and Value Added Resellers. The company has secured significant funding, including a $15.4 million Series B round in 2023 led by Oxx, to fuel product development and international expansion into Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.

Keywords: SME cybersecurity, cyber essentials certification, vulnerability management, compliance automation, endpoint protection, security awareness training, cyber insurance, risk management, GCHQ accelerator, managed service provider security, data protection, threat detection, continuous monitoring, policy management, cybersecurity for small business, UK CyberTech, information security standards, Active Protect, IT security solutions, network security