Menu
Working with leaders in our field
We are proud to work alongside the best cyber agencies and consultants from across the UK to offer access to national intelligence data and affordable, practical help to businesses across the region.
Our Cyber Experts Panel is made up of an esteemed group of cross sector practitioners who are leaders within their field in providing tailored risk and IT management.
Read on for further information and reasons for joining us!
Alan has a long history within information and cyber security. This includes…
Steve is the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for boxxe Limited. In 2003…
Scott Cardow is Managing Director of Precursor Security Ltd, an innovative…
Chris Murray is the co-founder of Yorkshire based Bleam Cyber Security and…
CyberShelter was established by the MD, Martin Hart and were created to take the…
Stewart joined Waterstons following the completion of a physics degree at Durham…
Dr Christopher Tait has over 15 years in the IT Security industry and since opening…
Baseel Partners LLP is a UK-based consultancy company with a Global footprint…
Data Connect are a cyber security focused company and a Cyber Essentials…
Jamie Robson is Aindale’s Professional Services and Cybersecurity Manager.
Aspire Technology Solutions is an award-winning IT Managed Service Provider…
ITPS delivers intelligent technology solutions across cyber security…
With over 20 years hands on experience in the IT industry looking after…
We are the Secure Cloud Experts. We keep your business safe, so can keep doing what you do best…
Alan has a long history within information and cyber security. This includes the responsibility for the design and implementation of solutions, policies, and procedures for national infrastructures for UK Policing and the Critical National Infrastructures (including Counter Terrorism and National Security). Over the last fifteen years Alan has provided CISO services to a wide range of companies (corporate and SME) developing their security maturity in line with their business objectives. Alan’s passion is in behavioural profiling and its impact on insider threat. Alan has had the pleasure of Chairing the Scottish Information Security Forum for 15 years, the National Information Security Conference for 5 years and a member of the Cabinet Offices’ National Information Assurance Forum for the past 10 years.
Steve is the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for boxxe Limited.
In 2003, Steve joined boxxe after a career in the Army as a Yeoman of Signals. He began in boxxe as a Technical Specialist and has since held roles including our Lead Information Security Consultant, Professional Services Manager, and several years as the company CLAS Consultant (CESG Listed Advisor Scheme). In these roles Steve gained many technical qualifications along with becoming CISM and CISSP qualified. Steve is the security architect for many of our HMG solutions and is our security specialist for the accreditation of services to our customers. Whilst at boxxe, Steve has also designed and delivered a wide range of training courses and provided advice to our customers in relation to Information Security. Steve has been instrumental in boxxe gaining certifications such as ISO27001 and Cyber Essentials Plus. This varied career has led to a broad knowledge of boxxe and our clients leading to his appointment as CISO.
Scott Cardow is Managing Director of Precursor Security Ltd, an innovative CREST member company specialising in Penetration Testing, Test Automation
and Continuous Security Testing. Precursor also provide a range of security services from Cyber Essentials certification to bespoke phishing assessments and adversary emulation exercises.
Scott has spent the last 15 years helping some of the largest UK organisations across multiple sectors deliver complex IT programmes, more recently leading Precursor and enjoying seeing the organisations reputation go from strength to strength through their technical excellence and by putting their clients at the heart of everything they do.
NGS are a specialist cyber security services and support provider. In addition to support and managed services, NGS can provide Cyber Essentials and IASME Governance certifications along with a Virtual CISO service, Cyber Risk Profiling and Security Posture Reviews.
Our resident CISO, Neil is (ISC)2 Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) in good standing with 20+ years in the IT industry. An excellent communicator, skilled in building effective long term relationships, driving business benefits, managing expectations and leading and motivating teams. Neil has the adaptability and capability required to deliver consistently high quality results in the challenging and fast moving digitally connected world.
Individual: Morton Bell
Job Title: Managing Director
Morton Bell is a seasoned Managing Director in the IT Support and Cyber Security industry, with a proven track record of success.
Morton started from a strong educational background, having graduated from Brunel University, and the College of Law, Guildford.
Working with clients of all different sizes and from a variety of different sectors, his professional strengths include explaining complex IT and security in plain English, having a keen eye for detail, exceptional problem-solving skills, and a passion for ensuring that all aspects of his clients’ IT infrastructure are secure and reliable.
Morton has successfully completed the IASME and GCHQ Certified Training programs for assessing Cyber Essentials and Cyber Assurance Levels 1 and 2 (including GDPR), and is also one of the first 100 NCSC Cyber Advisors.
With expertise in Business Information Management Systems, particularly Cyber Essentials and IASME Cyber Assurance Levels 1 and 2 certifications, Morton is considered a leading expert in the UK cyber security industry, and has given cyber security advice at a national level to businesses and consumers, including speaking at the National Cyber Security Show.
Morton joined the North East Cyber Expert Group in order to raise awareness of the threats posed by cyber attacks to SMEs in the North East, and offer his own expertise to help raise the standard of cyber security in the region.
Marcus is an experienced security consultant who has come from a technical background and has over 25 years in the implementation and managing of networks of all shapes and sizes. Marcus set up InfoSec Governance in order to help small and medium businesses reduce their cyber risk and help them work towards a safer future.
InfoSec Governance primarily provides Cyber Essentials, Cyber Essentials Plus and IASME Cyber Assurance certifications to reach this goal of protecting businesses.
We decided to become involved with the NEBRC Cyber Experts Group, to further increase our ability to help businesses reduce their risk and educate users about the dangers of online activities.
Chris Murray is the co-founder of Yorkshire based Bleam Cyber Security and a lead assessor for the Cyber Essentials scheme. Chris has extensive experience working across information security, including in-sourcing a large managed network security service for one of the largest banks in the UK.
Chris is both a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP) and is accustomed to assisting organisations both with the implementation of strategic security governance and frameworks and also technical consulting and security assessments.
Bleam provides specialist managed security services and security consulting to SME’s throughout the UK, protecting them from cybercrime and data breaches while enabling compliance with standards such as ISO 27001 and Cyber Essentials.
Bleam decided to join the NEBRC as they feel it is a great cause that is trying to increase the awareness of cybercrime within the UK’s SME community. SME’s are unfortunately still failing to be proactive when it comes to addressing cyber security risks.
Martin Hart is the MD for CyberShelter. His background in IT began with component level repairs for the Tyne and Wear Metro, a position which commenced on completion of his degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. From there he moved on to working with the largest Apple reseller in the North East, quickly becoming one of the highest and most thoroughly certified Apple Engineers in the country. In 2008 he started his own IT service and supply company, selling as a going concern in 2017. CyberShelter began soon after, utilizing Martin’s highly specialized knowledge in IT security. CyberShelter now have around 70 assorted businesses all relying on them for IT security, Governance and consultancy.
Stewart joined Waterstons following the completion of a physics degree at Durham University. He has a keen interest in technology and utilises the problem-solving skills gained through his degree to provide innovative solutions to complex problems. Stewart has a strong interest in Information Security, Business Continuity and IT Service Management and through several years of experience as an IT Manager has developed these areas as a specialism.
Stewart now focuses on working with clients to help them align with security and continuity frameworks such as ISO 27001 and ISO 22301 by optimising the areas of people, processes and technologies to reduce risk and deliver business value.
Dr Christopher Tait has over 15 years in the IT Security industry and since opening Layer 7 IT Security in 2010, has focused on delivering specialist security services to Public Sector and their supply chain in the areas of Security Architecture, Information Assurance and penetration testing.
In recent years Chris has focused upon defensive AWS security architectures and Continuous Security Integration pipelines.
Managing partner at Baseel, leading the consultancy and IT services business area. Paresh has over 25 years of experience in IT Governance, Risk Management, Cyber Security and Data Protection. He has executed many digital transformation programs.
Deepak is a head of Pre-sales at Baseel with 27+ years of experience in the Strategic & Management Role in the Information Communication and Technology (ICT) domain. He has spent his professional life across multiple countries, including Norway, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Singapore, Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Nepal, Laos & India. Deepak will be leading the partnership with the NEBRC.
Debra Cairns joined Net Defence in 2018 as Head of GRC having dedicated over 19 years of her career to the multinational consumer goods corporation, Proctor & Gamble (P&G). It was in this previous role that Debra gained essential financial and IT experience that has become integral to her role as Managing Director of Net Defence, the position she took on in 2020.
Debra has successfully built a team of industry-leading specialists with expertise in cyber security, IT support, and telephony, and has assembled a UK-wide sales team to bring Net Defences services and solutions directly to the businesses that need them.
Debra and the Net-Defence team are focused on eliminating fear rather than exploiting it. Instead, they’re dedicated to shifting the current narrative, seeking to remove the anxieties associated with the cyber industry and educate businesses on how to effectively protect their infrastructure.
Debra is committed to simplifying cyber security and educating businesses on best practices, ensuring training, support and knowledge is affordable, attainable and available for all.
Garry Brown is the Managing Director of Bondgate IT, a managed technology service provider based in Darlington. Garry’s first exposure to IT came at the age of eight when he learned to code on a rudimentary Acorn computer. While studying at Sixth Form College in his native Hartlepool, Garry initially opted to study Chemistry, Maths, and Physics, before catching up with missed work to switch to Computing, a popular subject among his friends. After graduation, Garry worked as an IT contractor for ICI, IBM, and Glaxo Wellcome before joining Bondgate IT.
The company was a fledgling IT build and service computer shop in Darlington town center 25 years ago but has now grown into a multi-faceted, managed technology service provider serving SMEs to large companies.
Garry believes in continually improving the company’s products and services to help clients negotiate the ever-changing world of technology. He says that he runs the business for his customers, not for himself, and his company prides itself on providing bespoke solutions to align with clients’ business needs, rather than something off the shelf. Bondgate IT helps clients achieve their business goals through managing, supporting, and delivering strategic IT solutions. Garry is a firm believer that technology can improve lives, businesses, and organizations. His company mantra is to ‘embrace digital disruption and challenge thinking’.
Joining the NEBRC Cyber Expert panel aligns with both Garry and Bondgate IT’s commitment to prioritising their clients’ cyber safety and allows the team at Bondgate IT to stay up-to-date with the latest cyber security developments impacting organisationsacross the UK .
Throughout Lois’ professional career, she has worked with a broad range of organisations, sharing her skills and expertise. While working closely with them, she has seen first-hand not only challenges that are common to all businesses, but those specific to certain sectors and organisational size. For the last 16 years, Lois has been a director at Data Connect, where she has used her experience to help develop a portfolio of cyber security services.
She understands how SME’s often don’t have the resources, both financially and physically, to protect themselves against the constantly evolving threat landscape. Frustrated by how much easier it is at enterprise level, Lois and the Data Connect team want to help level the playing field. Then, all organisations can have affordable access to the same security skills, support and advanced technology as large enterprises, who have the resources, experience and budget.
Being local to Harrogate, North Yorkshire, Lois is keen to help organisations in the area improve their cyber security knowledge. She was delighted to be given the opportunity to work with the NEBRC due to our shared commitment to provide knowledge and expertise to all organisations.
Providing a fantastic starting point for local organisations needing practical advice when they have cyber concerns is vital in this digital age. Being a part of this community enables Lois to help organisations develop, strengthen and improve their cyber resilience in the event of an attack.
Having a genuine interest in wanting to limit the impact of cyber attacks, Lois is always happy to act as a sounding board and provide assistance.
Jamie Robson is Aindale’s Professional Services and Cybersecurity Manager. He has over 13 years’ experience working in the IT industry across multiple different areas. He started with an apprenticeship and progressed on to other positions including field engineer and service desk support roles, eventually working up to managing a successful service desk.
After working in these fields, Jamie proceeded to deal in cybersecurity and has been a certified Cyber Essentials and IASME assessor for over 7 years. But his journey doesn’t stop there, Jamie is committed to consistently improving his knowledge and capabilities within the cybersecurity field, recently qualifying as an accredited “Cyber Advisor” with The Cyber Scheme. On top of that, he is currently undergoing study with the University of Northumbria working towards gaining a master’s degree in cybersecurity.
Jamie’s breadth of experience working both with and within various MSPs provides him with the understanding of how businesses of all sizes, from small startups to enterprise level organisations, have differing needs. He loves working closely with clients alongside partners to enhance their cybersecurity footprint and encourage best security practices within their organisations.
Working with the NEBRC gives Jamie the opportunity alongside the Aindale team to aid the wider community in working towards a safer cyber future.
Bob is the Director of Information Security at Aspire. He has a long history in information security, IT Infrastructure, development, and business systems across a diverse range of customers from Richard Branson’s Necker Island to Government organisations in both the UK and the Caribbean.
Internally at Aspire, Bob is responsible for cyber security, information security and compliance with standards. Bob also heads up Aspire’s security teams from security consultants to security operations Centre analysts and everything in between.
In terms of interests, Bob’s primary focus is information and cyber security, however he still likes to stay hands-on with technology, developing applications, writing scripts and playing with security solutions to get a real understanding (not just what’s written on the tin!).
Bob has always been interested in technology and its potential to improve people’s lives, but he is also aware of the risks that come with it. He became involved in the North East Cyber Expert Group because he is passionate about making the digital world safer and more secure and is committed to continuing to help SMEs in the region to strengthen their cybersecurity posture, build resilience, and thrive in a rapidly changing digital landscape.
CEO Simon Newton has a 25-year background in senior management roles, having played a pivotal part in the growth of businesses spanning the IT, financial, professional services and clean energy sectors.
ITPS delivers intelligent technology solutions across cyber security, cloud, connectivity, managed services, professional services, and data and analytics. Our specialist security team offers expertise including: assessing current security posture, identifying gaps and potential weaknesses, recommending the right solutions, then monitoring and maintaining them on an ongoing basis using the latest threat intelligence.
Marc has worked within the IT industry for almost 20 years. He first started out working for a small IT firm called Lynx Technology in 2005, building servers and desktops to customer specifications before moving into an Internal Systems role. From here, Marc became responsible for the internal networks, firewalls and unified communications infrastructure. In 2008 Lynx Technology, was purchased by British Telecom, and working through various roles, and with over 28 Cisco examinations passed, Marc became a senior network and collaborations specialist, working with some of the largest companies in UK, all managed by BT’s managed IT Services division.
In 2017, Marc sought out a new challenge and created Commstec IT Ltd, with the aim of helping small and medium sized business to make managing and securing their infrastructure as painless and stress free as possible, and to help these businesses continue to concentrate on what they do best. Our tag line is “In a world of technology, people make the difference” – which we believe today is just as important as it was back in 2005. The opportunities we were given at the start of our careers, are what drive us to create opportunities for the next generation of IT professionals for the future, but never losing sight of our primary focus, and keeping the customer at the heart of everything we do.
Niall joined HTG with as a Project Manager with experience industry-leading businesses such as DXC Technology and Hewlett Packard Enterprises, before progressing as an OperationsManager and now Operations Director. As our Director of Operations, Niall is responsible for the delivery of our outstanding managed services. He ensures our operations are fully optimised, allowing us to rapidly respond to our partners and deliver on our SLAs. HTG focus on all things Microsoft! We are a Microsoft FastTrack partner, meaning we are in the top 1% of Microsoft partners globally. We hold advanced specialisms in Cloud Security, Identity and Access Management, Threat Protection, and Azure Virtual Desktop Microsoft – AVD. Niall spoke on his partnership with the NEBRC:
“The unfortunate reality for many businesses today is that cyberattacks are not just probable, they’re inevitable. And it’s small businesses that face the worst of it, with some reports estimating that almost 50% of SMEs have been a victim of cybercrime. I’m proud to be able to add my knowledge and experience to the NEBRC Cyber Experts Group to help local businesses protect themselves from the growing threat of cyber-attacks.”
TecSec are first and foremost an IT Support Services company however we have a strong specialism towards security and in addition to being a certification body for IASME, at TecSec we pride ourselves on delivering a range of IT Support services, including:
Alongside our IT support services, at TecSec we also offer a range of cyber security services to help protect your organisation from cyber threats. Our cyber security services include:
InfoSec Governance are a Cyber Essentials and IASME Cyber Assurance certification body foremost, in addition, we also provide security audits, security consultancy and penetration testing for businesses which need that extra level of reassurance.
Our Cyber Essentials offerings come with free pre-submission answer reviews to help businesses work towards that first time pass as well as the ability to provide flexible remote based Cyber Essentials Plus assessments.
When it comes to businesses, we cover all sectors and sizes, from one-person businesses up to larger enterprises.
Baseel Partners LLP is a 12+ year old UK-based entity with following 3 corporate members and are known for quality, innovation and delivery.
The group services clients across more than 60 countries with a broad portfolio of IT and consultancy services. Below are our service offerings:
We have Experienced, cross-trained team of seasoned technology professionals having ability to comprehensively review and understand business requirements, technology constraints, compliance and regulatory issues through senior partner-level involvement with Flexible, technology agnostic approach to designing solutions that best meet client needs and provide Hybrid delivery model, utilizing seamlessly integrated on-shore and off-shore teams.
We are on Digital Outcome Services and GCloud 13 frameworks of the UK Government. As Microsoft Gold Partner & AWS Partner, we are able to secure support at very reasonable low cost for charity organisations including SMBs.
In addition to above we offer our services at very attractive rates with no compromise on quality.
Our company is a leading provider of IT services, offering a comprehensive range of solutions to meet the diverse needs of businesses across various industries. With years of experience in the industry, we have built a reputation for delivering top-notch services that exceed our clients’ expectations.
Our team of highly skilled professionals possesses extensive expertise in IT support, managed services, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and data backup and recovery, among others. We work closely with our clients to understand their unique needs, enabling us to tailor our services to their specific requirements.
Our commitment to quality is reflected in our mission, vision, and values. We are dedicated to providing unparalleled customer service, leveraging our extensive industry knowledge to deliver innovative solutions that drive our clients’ success. Our vision is to become the go-to provider of IT services, continually pushing the boundaries of what is possible to deliver exceptional results for our clients.
We believe in fostering long-term partnerships with our clients, working collaboratively to achieve their goals. Our core values of integrity, innovation, and excellence guide everything we do, ensuring that we always deliver the highest standards of service.
Our Managed IT Support services are designed to provide our clients with comprehensive IT support, allowing them to focus on their core business operations. Our team of experts provides round-the-clock support, monitoring and maintenance, ensuring that our clients’ IT infrastructure remains secure and optimized.
We also offer Non-Profit IT Support and Charity IT Support services, recognizing the unique challenges faced by these organizations. Our solutions are tailored to meet the specific needs of non-profit organizations, providing cost-effective solutions that enable them to operate efficiently and effectively.
In conclusion, our company is committed to providing high-quality IT services that help our clients achieve their business goals. With our team of experts, comprehensive solutions, and commitment to excellence, we are the ideal partner for businesses looking to leverage technology to drive their success.
Based in Harrogate, Data Connect is an established cyber security focused business who help organisations, that vary in size and industry, bolster their defences. As a dedicated and trusted security partner, customers have peace of mind with our end-to-end cyber security services. These are delivered through a blend of technology, consultancy and managed services.
Data Connect is also a certification body for Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus. We streamline the certification process, while providing valuable knowledge to help you to continue maturing your cyber security.
Full transparency and visibility are key to Data Connect, which is why we give our customers access to our powerful portal which integrates with all our services. The single pane of glass, vSOC Connect Console, has an extensive list of features depending on your specific security needs. Designed with a clean and sleek user interface, you can drill down on individual security metrics, customise a range of dashboards, manage projects and tasks, track progress, view improvements and access support.
Managed Services:
In this day and age where security cannot be ignored, we deliver business assurance without impacting your organisation’s performance. All the services are backed up by vendor-certified security experts who also have all the necessary technical understanding and the valuable working experience to apply it to your specific operations. To deliver these services, our technical team consists of Cyber Essentials assessors and auditors, firewall and network engineers, a dedicated support desk and our 24×7 SOC Team.
Other Services:
Aindale KTD are a leading MSP with a key focus around Cyber Security. In an age where technology is ever evolving and increasingly important to businesses, it is highly beneficial to implement it where appropriate in your business practices. However, we at Aindale KTD are aware that the world of IT can be a confusing one to step into and navigate. We pride ourselves on friendly and prompt customer service, providing solutions tailored to you, keeping your business safe- and above all, making sense of IT.
This is why we offer services suited to businesses at any stage in their technological journey, from those just starting to implement tech into their daily practices, to those who are already successfully implementing it but are looking to stay ahead of the curve. As a business with over 35 years’ experience in the tech field, we have learned and grown alongside it, providing us with the knowledge and expertise to assist you in reaping its rewards.
We offer a multitude of both hardware and software solutions and services including internet provision and VOIP solutions, Microsoft 365 licencing and services, and above all a team of skilled technical consultants and engineers to assist with any sized issues and projects.
Of course, stepping into cyberspace doesn’t come without its risks. With a rise in cybercrime being one of the biggest risks to businesses, it is essential that the correct guidelines and procedures are followed to safeguard your data. We can help with this. Our cybersecurity professionals can help you protect your devices, filter out spam from your email inboxes, help you stay safe whilst surfing the web and more.
On top of this, being an accredited Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus certification body, we can provide you with all of the information and guidance you need to protect you and your clients, then even provide you with a recognised certification to prove that you take cybersecurity seriously.
Aspire is one of the fastest-growing IT companies in the UK. We deliver technology like no other for our customers.
We are an award-winning IT Managed Service Provider and Cyber Security Provider. We deliver leading technology solutions across cyber security, cloud, connectivity, managed services and unified communications to help our customers drive real business benefits.
Our mission is to deliver technology like no other; we are dedicated to putting technology to work to help our customers innovate, become more efficient and grow quicker.
We have an extensive customer base across the UK including SMEs, public sector and not-for-profit organisations as well as large enterprises and blue-chip organisations with a global presence. We provide services across multiple sectors, to a vastly diverse portfolio of organisations, which means our experience is well-rounded and our expertise is constantly tested to the highest levels.
We help our customers accelerate their ambitions through inspirational technology and to achieve this, we have a passion for delivering a sensational data-driven customer experience. To make sure we’re on track, we measure our performance using the Net Promoter Score (NPS) global measure. In the past 12 months our score has averaged +87 which is deemed ‘world-class’.
At Aspire, we design and deliver innovative IT solutions that drive organisations forward. In a world that’s changing faster than ever, we expect our customers to expect more from their technology.
Our team of technical architects, consultants and engineers are certified and accredited with leading software and hardware vendors. We tailor our solutions to meet your specific business needs.
We have developed sophisticated internal systems to ensure that whatever the requirement and whatever the set-up, you will always allocated the best-qualified person for the job. We work to targeted service levels that are carefully managed to ensure our customer support is second to none. This is best illustrated by our world class NPS (Net Promoter Score)!
Commstec IT are an IT Services Consultancy specialising in network communications, endpoint protection, and infrastructure management. With an infinite passion for customer service and helping businesses make the most out of their IT, as securely and efficiently as possible.
Providing IT solutions in an ever-changing world of increased remote home-basedworking, cloud adoption, border-less network security, and an ever increasing Cyber threat presence, we excel in making our clients environments be as secure and resilient as possible. Utilising the very latest technologies, automation techniques and streamlined processes we can also do it very cost efficiently.
What we provide:
Above all, we provide a guaranteed personal and friendly service tailored made to your business and the way you work. Get in touch to see how we can help you drive down costs, whilst ensuring the highest levels of information security and resilience.
