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IT Security Consulting in the UK - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Krasimir Dinev Krasimir Dinev London, United Kingdom Last Updated: October 2024 SIC SP0.025

Revenue

£12.8bn

2024-25

£12.8bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

£X.Xbn

Employees

63,839

Businesses

1,910

Wages

£X.Xbn

IT Security Consulting in the UK industry analysis

IT security consulting firms are enjoying strong demand as increased IT adoption is requiring organisations to seek protection from IT crimes and cyberattacks. This continued technological adoption in society has expanded the potential downstream market for IT security consultants, boosting demand. Revenue volatility has remained low, as consistent demand has been delivered from the public and private sectors. Over the five years through 2024-25, industry revenue is expected to climb at a compound annual rate of 5.2% to reach £12.8 billion, including growth of 5.7% in 2024-25.

Trends and Insights

  • Growing tech adoption fuels cybersecurity demand. As consumers increasingly rely on technology, businesses are incentivised to establish robust cybersecurity systems, boosting demand for IT security consulting.
  • Cybersecurity services stay on top. The rise in cyber vulnerabilities has amplified the need for expert consulting while the development of IoT devices generates demand for supplementary security solutions.
  • London's business density attracts IT security consultants. The capital's concentration of corporate headquarters, government offices and financial service businesses offers easy access to clients.
  • IT security consultants compete on service quality and specialisation. Companies try to set themselves apart with superior threat detection rates and by offering speciality services, like Darktrace's focus on AI threats.

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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 5.6 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated £12.8bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Increasing technology adoption drives demand for IT security consulting

  • Rising use of technology by consumers in their daily lives means more interaction with businesses online and higher volumes and values of e-commerce purchases. This incentivises businesses to establish an online presence and has increased the number of potential victims of IT crimes and cyber-attacks, consequently raising industry demand.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
IT Security Consulting in the UK
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

The Internet of Things market will be a key driver of industry growth

  • Research from IoT Analytics expects the number of devices embedded with IoT sensors and network connectivity to rally from about 16.7 billion in 2023 to over 29 billion in 2027. This is likely to be mainly driven by vehicles, consumer electronics and utility devices. This presents an opportunity for IT security experts to consult on retrofitting devices with improved security software and hardware.

Biggest companies in the IT Security Consulting in the UK

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue (£m)
2025
Darktrace Holdings Ltd
714.3
BT Group plc
538.1
BAE Systems plc
482.8

To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

IT Security Consulting in the UK
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Cyber security services and consulting , Supplementary security products and Managed security protection. Cyber security services and consulting is the largest segment of the IT Security Consulting in the UK.

Trends and Insights

Cybersecurity services and consulting are the mainstay of the industry

  • Cybersecurity services include providing consultants to advise on security products or solutions, providing authentication services, responding to cyber incidents, information risk assessment, services to protect Internet of Things (IoT) devices or networks, awareness training and threat intelligence monitoring, detection and analysis.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

This industry offers managed IT security services, such as firewall management, intrusion prevention, security threat analysis, proactive security vulnerability management, penetration testing and incident preparation and response. IT forensics are also included in the industry.

What's included in this industry?

Cybersecurity services and consultingSupplementary security productsManaged security protectionService resale

Companies

Darktrace Holdings LtdBT Group plcBAE Systems plc

Purchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

INTERNET OF THINGS (IOT)DISTRIBUTED DENIAL-OF-SERVICE ATTACKPHISHING ATTACK RSA ENCRYPTIONQUBITSUPERVISORY CONTROL AND DATA ACQUISITION (SCADA)

Industry Code

SIC 2007

SIC 62.02 - IT Security Consulting in the UK

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Growing tech adoption fuels cybersecurity demand. As consumers increasingly rely on technology, businesses are incentivised to establish robust cybersecurity systems, boostin...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Cybersecurity services stay on top. The rise in cyber vulnerabilities has amplified the need for expert consulting while the development of IoT devices generates demand for s...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

London's business density attracts IT security consultants. The capital's concentration of corporate headquarters, government offices and financial service businesses offers ...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

IT security consultants compete on service quality and specialisation. Companies try to set themselves apart with superior threat detection rates and by offering speciality s...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Strong competition prevents companies from dominating. Due to increased IT adoption and growing cyber threats, more IT security consultants are entering the industry, prevent...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Darktrace Holdings Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of BT Group plc's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of BAE Systems plc's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Darktrace Holdings Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for BT Group plc, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for BAE Systems plc, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

UK GDPR stands as the key regulation. It requires IT security consultants to secure explicit user consent before processing their personal data, imposing stringent penalties ...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

IT security consultants face climbing wages. Companies need skilled employees to combat cybersecurity threats, so they offer higher wages to attract talent, especially given ...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Liquidity Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2018-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Assets (2018-2022)
  • Liabilities (2018-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the IT Security Consulting in the UK industry in United Kingdom in 2024?

The market size of the IT Security Consulting in the UK industry in United Kingdom is £12.8bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the IT Security Consulting in the UK industry in 2024?

There are 1,910 businesses in the IT Security Consulting in the UK industry in United Kingdom, which has grown at a CAGR of 8.5 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the IT Security Consulting in the UK industry in United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the IT Security Consulting in the UK industry in United Kingdom has been growing at a CAGR of 5.6 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the IT Security Consulting in the UK industry in United Kingdom over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the IT Security Consulting in the UK industry in United Kingdom is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the IT Security Consulting in the UK market in United Kingdom?

The biggest companies operating in the IT Security Consulting market in United Kingdom are Darktrace Holdings Ltd, BT Group plc and BAE Systems plc

What does the IT Security Consulting in the UK in United Kingdom include?

Cybersecurity services and consulting and Supplementary security products are part of the IT Security Consulting in the UK industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the IT Security Consulting in the UK in United Kingdom?

The company holding the most market share in United Kingdom is Darktrace Holdings Ltd.

How competitive is the IT Security Consulting in the UK industry in United Kingdom?

The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the IT Security Consulting in the UK industry in United Kingdom.

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Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the UK include:

  • Office for National Statistics
  • Office for Budget Responsibility
  • Bank of England

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.