UKFast eyes cyber security market

WEB hosting firm UKFast has launched a spin-off company to offer cyber security services.

Secarma will operate as a standalone business specialising in IT security and disaster recovery services including forensic, ethical testing and crisis management.

The business is planning to recruit 20 to 30 people over the next six months.

The move will put UKFast in direct competition with Manchester-based NCC Group which is listed on the London Stock Exchange and has made a number of acquisitions in recent years. It now has a market value of £312m.

UKFast’s chief executive Lawrence Jones told TheBusinessDesk: “I’m not going to look at what the market does, I’m going to look at what the customer needs and what I can afford to supply, and come in with a great product at the right price.

“We’ve got products that we will introduce to this market that no one else does.”

He added: “NCC has dominated the market for a long time. It’s a growing market and it needs competition to create better services and raise competition.”

He said UKFast was already offering customers security services which he realised could be marketed separately to respond to growing demand. Mr Jones thinks it could become a £10m-£15m business within five years.

UKFast now employs around a 160 staff and has revenues of some £20m.