Do I Need a Cyber Security Company If I Already Have an Internal IT Team?
Quick Answer
Yes, you may still benefit from external cyber security even if you already have an internal IT team.
Many internal IT teams already handle important security tasks such as user accounts, updates, backups, antivirus and Microsoft 365. But cyber security can require additional time, specialist tools, monitoring and independent checking that an internal team may not always have available.
The aim is not to replace your IT team.
A cyber security company can work alongside them, providing extra expertise and helping to check that the protections already in place are working as expected.
The first thing to establish is what security your internal IT team already covers and whether there are any gaps that need additional support.
What does an internal IT team normally handle?
An internal IT team is usually responsible for keeping the technology the business relies on working properly.
That can include:
Setting up computers and user accounts
Managing Microsoft 365
Supporting staff with technical problems
Installing updates
Managing servers and networks
Looking after backups
Managing printers, phones and other business systems
Controlling access to company systems
Security is often part of that work too.
Your IT team may already manage antivirus, multi-factor authentication, software updates, firewall settings and user permissions.
The challenge is that internal IT teams often have a very wide range of responsibilities. They may be dealing with everything from a broken laptop in the morning to a server problem in the afternoon.
That does not mean they are not doing security properly. It simply means cyber security is one part of a much bigger job.
Does my internal IT team already handle cyber security?
Possibly, and in many businesses they will already be doing quite a lot.
Your IT team may already manage things like multi-factor authentication, antivirus, software updates, backups, firewalls, user permissions and Microsoft 365 security settings.
The important thing is not to assume either way.
Some internal IT teams have strong cyber security knowledge, dedicated tools and enough time to manage security properly. Others are focused mainly on keeping systems running and supporting staff, with security handled as part of their wider workload.
That is why it is useful to understand exactly what is being covered.
A few simple questions can help:
Who is responsible for reviewing security settings?
Are vulnerabilities being checked regularly?
Are backups being tested?
Are old or unnecessary accounts being removed?
Is Microsoft 365 being reviewed for security issues?
Are staff being trained to recognise phishing and other common threats?
If your IT team already has these areas well covered, you may not need much additional support.
If there are gaps, that is where an external cyber security company can help.
Why would I bring in an external cyber security company?
The main reason is to add extra security capability without replacing your internal IT team.
An external cyber security company can provide a second pair of eyes and focus specifically on security rather than day-to-day IT support.
That may include things like:
Reviewing security settings
Checking for vulnerabilities
Looking at Microsoft 365 security
Reviewing user and administrator access
Helping with security monitoring and reviewing suspicious activity
Staff security awareness training
Checking whether existing protections are configured properly
It can also be useful to have someone independent look at the environment.
Your IT team may have built and managed the systems for years. An outside review can sometimes spot things that have been missed, changed over time or simply never been checked in detail.
The idea is not to take control away from your IT team. It is to give them additional support and help fill any gaps that exist.
Is external cyber security replacing my IT team?
Usually not.
In most cases, external cyber security should work alongside your internal IT team rather than replace it.
Your internal IT team already understands your systems, your users and how the business operates. That knowledge is valuable and should not be lost.
An external cyber security company adds another layer of support by focusing specifically on security.
That might mean reviewing existing controls, helping with monitoring, carrying out security checks, supporting staff training or providing advice when something needs a more specialist look.
The best arrangement is usually one where both sides work together.
Your IT team continues to manage the technology and day-to-day support, while the cyber security company helps strengthen the security around it.
Is there an advantage to having someone independent check security?
Yes, there can be.
Even a good internal IT team can benefit from having someone outside the business take a fresh look at security.
Over time, systems change, new users are added, permissions are adjusted and new services are introduced. Small security gaps can appear without anyone deliberately doing anything wrong.
An independent review can help identify those gaps and provide a second opinion on the controls already in place.
It can also give business owners and managers an independent view of their current security position. This can be particularly useful when the same team responsible for managing the technology is also responsible for assessing its security.
The purpose is not to find fault with your IT team. It is to provide another layer of checking and help confirm what is working well, as well as highlight anything that may need attention.
How do I know if my internal IT team needs extra help?
There is not always an obvious sign that additional cyber security support is needed.
Your IT team may be doing a good job of keeping everything running, but there can still be areas of security that are not being regularly checked.
Some signs that it may be worth taking a closer look include:
Nobody can clearly explain who is responsible for cyber security
Security is mainly reviewed when something goes wrong
Multi-factor authentication is not used consistently
Backups are not regularly tested
Old accounts and administrator access are not routinely reviewed
Staff have not received security awareness training
Vulnerabilities are not being checked regularly
Nobody is monitoring for suspicious activity or signs of compromise
None of these automatically means your IT team is doing a bad job.
It may simply mean they are concentrating on keeping the business running and could benefit from some additional security support in specific areas.
What should I ask my internal IT team before buying anything else?
Before paying for additional cyber security, find out what your internal IT team already has in place.
You do not need to turn this into a technical audit. Start with a few straightforward questions:
Who is responsible for cyber security?
When was our security last reviewed?
Is multi-factor authentication required for our important accounts?
When were our backups last tested?
How do we check for vulnerabilities?
Who has administrator access, and how often is that reviewed?
What security training do staff receive?
If something suspicious happened, how would we know?
The important part is not simply getting a yes or no. You want to understand what is actually being done and how regularly it is checked.
If your IT team can clearly answer those questions and show that these areas are being managed, you may already have much of what you need.
If some answers are unclear, that helps identify where additional support may be useful.
What should I do next?
Start by talking to your internal IT team.
Ask what cyber security they already manage, what is being monitored, how often security is reviewed and whether there are any areas they feel need additional support.
You may find that more is already being done than you expected.
If some areas are unclear or not currently covered, that does not necessarily mean you need to replace anything or start a large security project. It may simply mean getting extra help in the areas that need it.
The important thing is to understand what is already being done, where the gaps are and whether anything actually needs to change.
Systems Secure works alongside internal IT teams to provide additional cyber security support where it is needed.
In short
Having an internal IT team does not mean you do not need cyber security, but it also does not mean you automatically need an external provider.
Many IT teams already handle important security tasks such as backups, updates, antivirus, user accounts and Microsoft 365.
The key is understanding what is already being covered and whether anything is missing.
External cyber security can provide extra expertise, independent checking and support without replacing your IT team.
Before buying anything new, ask your IT team what they already manage, what is monitored and how often security is reviewed.
If there are gaps, bring in additional help only where it is needed.
Who checks that your security actually works?
Your IT team keeps the business running. We check it is protected — finding the risks, telling your IT team what to fix, and showing you the proof every month in plain English.
Per computer, sole trader. Excludes VAT.
- Round-the-clock monitoring of every computer
- Updates, ransomware protection, web filtering
- Training so your people spot the scams
Three packages, sized by how many people you have — £35, £204 and £710 a month. Every price is on this page.
Systems Secure Ltd is an independent cyber security company based in Copthorne, West Sussex, run by James Batt and working with businesses across the UK. Its managed service, QuantumCare, works alongside your existing IT support rather than replacing it — finding the risks, telling your IT team what to fix, and checking that important protections are still working.
This is cyber security, not IT support. Prices are published on this site, starting at £35 a month. Cyber security should give you clear answers — not long reports, confusing alerts or guesswork.
Keep your IT support. Add dedicated cyber security.
There's a reason a company's accounts are prepared by one firm and audited by another. It isn't that accountants can't be trusted — it's that nobody, however good, is well placed to check their own work.
Keeps your systems, users and everyday technology running. In-house or outsourced, they stay involved throughout — and receive clear, specific actions from us whenever their help is needed.
Finds the cyber risks, strengthens protection, and checks that important security controls are still working. You get an independent view of what's protected, what has changed, and what should happen next.
- We're not here to replace anyone or catch anyone out
- Clear responsibilities for everyone involved
- Independent checks on important protection
- Clear proof for you every month
Good IT teams tend to welcome this. An independent report is often the evidence they've been trying to get budget on for months.
Most security companies won't show you a price until you've sat through a sales call. Here's ours.
Sole Trader
One person, one computer
From £35
per computer, per month
- Round-the-clock monitoring of your computer
- Updates kept on top of automatically
- Protection against viruses and ransomware
- Dangerous websites blocked before they load
- Yearly training so you spot the scams
- Ask us a question any time
Micro Business
Priced per Microsoft 365 or Google account
From £204
per month
- Round-the-clock monitoring of every computer
- Your files backed up to the cloud
- An alert the moment a login is stolen
- Regular checks for weak spots
- Ongoing training, not just once a year
- A plain-English summary every month
Business Pro
Priced per Microsoft 365 or Google account
From £710
per month
- Everything in Micro Business
- Your network and firewall checked
- Tested from the outside, the way an attacker would
- Security policies written for you
- Cyber Essentials readiness support
- A review with James every quarter
No setup fees. No minimum contract. No penalty for changing your mind. All prices exclude VAT. Compare all packages side by side
Need security ownership at board level?
QuantumCare CISO is the mirror image of the packages above — all people, no software. A qualified security officer for a business of 10 to 250 people, from £1,200 a month. Five published prices, and no quote to ask for.
See CISO pricesNot ready for a monthly plan?
One-off work with James at a fixed price agreed before anything starts. £450 to review one system — your Microsoft 365, your firewall, your backups. £795 for the whole business. Got a question first? There's no charge for finding out whether you need us.
See consulting pricesFour steps from the price on this page to being protected
No form to fill in first, and no sales call needed to find out the number.
Pick your package
Three QuantumCare packages, sized by how many people you have, from £35 a month. Every price is published on this site.
Thirty minutes with James
A conversation, not a pitch. We confirm which package fits — and if the honest answer is that you don't need us, we'll say so.
Setup
We install it, configure it and check it is working — usually inside a week from agreement, and mostly without you noticing.
Every month after
Monitoring, updates applied in the background, and problems dealt with rather than just flagged up. Micro Business and Business Pro add a plain-English summary each month.
What you can hold us to
No lock-in
Month to month on 30 days' notice, no setup fee and no penalty for changing your mind. A 12-month option is there if you'd rather freeze your price — a choice, not a requirement.
A three-month refund
If your business is compromised while you're following the agreed security plan, you get three months' fees back. No security company can promise you'll never be attacked, and we don't.
Only 20 clients
The managed security list is capped at 20, so the person checking your security is actually paying attention — and you deal with the same person every time.
Never your competitor
We will not take on a direct competitor of an existing client, and every price on this site is the price you pay.
The proof is in the numbers, the awards and the qualifications
In IT, networks and cyber security since 1995
Systems Secure trading, full time on cyber security since 2016
Defences strengthened, risk reduced, peace of mind delivered
Trained to spot threats, stop breaches and protect businesses
The gold standard in cyber security, recognised worldwide.
Certified to run a security programme — governance, risk and reporting to a board.
Qualified to think like a hacker and find your weaknesses first.
Certified in structured cyber risk management using the NIST framework.
Globally recognised qualification in cyber security best practice.
Hi, I'm James Batt
- CISSP, C|CISO, CEH, NCSP Practitioner, Security+
- 21 years designing multi-million-dollar IT systems in oil and gas
- 16 years running Systems Secure, based in Copthorne, West Sussex
Most cyber security experts talk in acronyms. I talk like a business owner — because I am one.
I went into the oil and gas industry in 1995, doing IT, networks and security for global corporations, and led multi-million-dollar projects across America and Europe. Twenty-one years of it — and security was part of the job from the first day. I'm not an IT man who retrained into it later.
In 2010 I started Systems Secure as a sideline and ran it alongside the day job for six years. By 2016 it had outgrown the evenings and weekends, so I sat the Certified Ethical Hacker exam, left a good salary and better benefits behind, and turned the company from IT to cyber security — because security was, and still is, the weakness most smaller businesses have.
Sixteen years on, I've helped 200+ UK organisations strengthen their defences, pass compliance audits, and sleep easier knowing their data — and their reputation — are protected. You deal with me, not a rotating support desk.
Cybersecurity Essentials for Business Owners
Written for the person who owns the business, not the person who runs the servers. No acronyms, no scare stories, and nothing you need a technical background to act on.
- How attacks on businesses your size actually start — which is rarely the way people expect
- The handful of protections worth putting in place before anything else
- How to tell whether what you already have is genuinely working
We'll email you the PDF. The button opens a short form — one name, one email address.
Send me the guide In a hurry? The ten-point checklist is on the site already, with nothing to fill in.Questions you're probably asking
The main ones that come up on almost every call, answered here so you don't have to book one to find out.
How much does cyber security cost for a small business in the UK?
Systems Secure managed cyber security starts at £35 per computer per month for a sole trader, £204 per month for a business of one to nine people, and £710 per month for a business of ten or more. All prices exclude VAT and there are no setup fees.
What you pay depends on how many people you have. The Sole Trader package is priced per computer. Micro Business and Business Pro are priced per Microsoft 365 or Google account, so the cost scales with your team rather than a fixed licence block. Every price is published on the website — you don't need to sit through a sales call to find out the number.
What is QuantumCare?
QuantumCare is Systems Secure's cyber security service: three managed packages priced by how many people you have — Sole Trader from £35 a month, Micro Business from £204 and Business Pro from £710 — plus QuantumCare CISO, a separate service from £1,200 a month for businesses of 10 to 250 that need a qualified security officer rather than more software.
It is cyber security, not IT support — it works alongside whoever runs your systems rather than replacing them, finding the risks, telling your IT team what to fix, and checking that important protections are still working.
Do I have to sign a long contract?
No. Every Systems Secure package runs on a rolling monthly basis with 30 days' notice and no cancellation penalty. There is no minimum term.
A 12-month option is available if you'd rather freeze your price, which saves £2 per account per month. It's a choice, not a requirement.
Is there a setup fee?
No. There are no setup fees and nothing to pay upfront on any Systems Secure package. You pay monthly, starting from the month the service begins.
Do your prices include VAT?
No. All Systems Secure prices are quoted excluding VAT. VAT is added to your invoice at the prevailing UK rate.
Can I get a one-off piece of work instead of a monthly plan?
Yes. Fixed-price consulting is available with no ongoing commitment: £150 for a single question answered in writing within two working days, £250 for a second opinion, £450 for a review of one system, and £795 for a full review of your business. All prices exclude VAT.
These prices are built for businesses of up to 25 staff. Above that, the price rises with headcount.
Working with your IT team
Do I have to get rid of my existing IT provider?
No. Systems Secure is designed to work alongside your existing IT support, not replace it. Whether your IT is outsourced or in-house, they carry on running your systems, users and everyday technology, and receive clear, specific actions from us whenever their help is needed.
The two roles are different jobs. Your IT team keeps the business running; Systems Secure checks that it's actually protected. You get an independent view of what's protected, what has changed and what should happen next — without disrupting a relationship that's already working.
We have our own IT manager. Do we still need an outside security firm?
Usually yes — and it tends to help them rather than undermine them. An in-house IT manager is responsible for keeping everything running, which means security competes with a hundred other urgent things every week. It also means they would be reporting on the quality of their own work, which isn't a fair position to put anyone in.
Systems Secure gives your IT manager a specialist to escalate to and a second pair of eyes on the things that matter, and gives you a view that doesn't depend on one person's workload or judgement.
What is the difference between IT support and cyber security?
IT support keeps your technology working: fixing problems, setting up new starters, keeping systems online. Cyber security is a separate job — finding weaknesses before an attacker does, strengthening protection, and checking that important controls are still working months after they were switched on.
Good IT teams, in-house or outsourced, do handle parts of security — including updates, backups and access control. What they rarely provide is independent oversight: someone whose only job is to look for the gaps, and who has no reason to report that everything is fine.
My IT company says they already handle security. Do I need you as well?
Possibly not — and Systems Secure will tell you honestly if that's the case. But two things are worth knowing: nobody is well placed to audit their own work, and IT providers are themselves a target for attackers looking for a route into their customers' networks.
In a joint advisory, the UK's National Cyber Security Centre — alongside CISA, the NSA, the FBI and their Australian, Canadian and New Zealand counterparts — warned that managed service providers are granted privileged access to a customer's network, which can create opportunities for attackers.
That isn't hypothetical. In July 2021 attackers exploited a flaw in Kaseya VSA, remote management software used by IT providers, and reached an estimated 800 to 1,500 businesses through around 60 providers. None of those businesses did anything wrong. They were reached through a supplier they trusted.
So the question worth asking isn't "do you handle security?" It's "when did you last check that it's working, and can I see the evidence?"
Risk and threats
Is my business too small to be a cyber target?
No. In the last 12 months, 46% of UK small businesses and 42% of micro businesses identified a cyber security breach or attack, according to the Government's Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025/26.
Most attacks aren't personally chosen — they're automated. Software scans the internet looking for weaknesses and takes whatever it finds. A business with three staff and a website nobody visits still gets probed daily. Phishing remains by far the most common method, experienced by 38% of businesses.
Isn't antivirus enough?
No. Antivirus catches known threats, but most modern attacks don't rely on a recognisable file. Phishing, stolen passwords and misconfigured settings all bypass antivirus entirely.
Proper protection needs several layers: monitoring that spots unusual behaviour, multi-factor authentication, patching, backups you've actually tested, and staff who can recognise a convincing fake email.
Isn't cyber insurance enough on its own?
No. Most cyber insurance policies require you to prove you took reasonable precautions — multi-factor authentication, staff training, patch management. If you can't demonstrate those, a claim can be reduced or refused entirely.
Insurers increasingly expect standards such as Cyber Essentials before they'll offer cover or renew it. Insurance is worth having, but it pays out after the damage. It doesn't prevent it.
What happens if we get attacked anyway?
No security company can promise you'll never be attacked, and Systems Secure doesn't make that promise. What it does offer is a three-month refund guarantee: if your business is compromised while you're following the agreed security plan, you get three months' fees back.
The realistic goal is fewer incidents, caught earlier and contained faster.
The service
What do I actually get each month?
Every package includes round-the-clock monitoring, automatic updates, protection against viruses and ransomware, blocking of dangerous websites, and staff training. Larger packages add cloud backup, alerts when a login is stolen, regular checks for weak spots, firewall and network reviews, written security policies and a quarterly review.
Micro Business and Business Pro also include a short monthly summary showing what's protected, what changed and what needs attention — written in plain English rather than as a long technical report.
What size businesses do you work with?
From sole traders up to businesses of around 250 staff. There are three packages: Sole Trader for one person, Micro Business for one to nine people, and Business Pro for ten to 250. Business Pro has a minimum of ten accounts.
Do you only work with businesses in West Sussex?
No. Systems Secure is based in Copthorne, West Sussex, and works with businesses across the UK. Almost all of the work is done remotely, so your location doesn't affect the service or the price.
On-site visits are available and charged separately: £240 for a visit of up to two hours, £400 for a half day and £760 for a full day.
Can you help us get Cyber Essentials?
Yes. Cyber Essentials readiness support is included in the Business Pro package. That means reviewing your current setup against the requirements, telling you what needs to change, and getting you to the point where you can pass.
Worth knowing: Cyber Essentials reflects the day of assessment, not a permanent state. Ongoing patching, access reviews and vulnerability checks are what keep the certificate meaningful between renewals.
Who you're dealing with
Who will I actually be dealing with?
James Batt. Systems Secure deliberately caps its managed security client list at 20, so you deal with the same person every time rather than a rotating support desk.
Systems Secure will also never take on a direct competitor of an existing client.
What qualifications does James Batt hold?
James Batt holds CISSP, C|CISO (Certified Chief Information Security Officer), CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker), NCSP Practitioner and CompTIA Security+.
Behind those: 21 years designing multi-million-dollar IT systems for the oil and gas industry, and 16 years running Systems Secure. The company was named Cybersecurity Company of the Year at the West Sussex Business Awards 2025, and Security Solution Specialists of the Year at the E2 Media Awards 2025.
Why do you only take on 20 clients?
Because security oversight is only worth paying for if someone is genuinely paying attention. Capping the list at 20 clients means each one gets real scrutiny rather than an automated dashboard nobody reads.
It also means Systems Secure can be honest about capacity rather than selling a service it can't properly deliver.
Thirty minutes, free, and nothing to decide on the call
A conversation, not a pitch. We'll confirm which package fits — and if the honest answer is that you don't need us, we'll say so.
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