UK’s cyber security consulting market growth to double this year
The growth of the UK’s cyber security consulting market could double this year, as cyber attakcs bcome more prevelant and impactful. New research from Source Global Research suggests that advisors helping fortify clients against hackers could enjoy 9% expansion this year – well above the industry average.
The sustained slowdown in the consulting sector saw the UK industry’s collective revenue move into negative growth in 2024, according to Source Global Research. Projecting shrinkage of 3.4% to combined revenues of £14.9 billion, it was the first time since the pandemic that the research firm estimated a decline in the sector – with consultants having enjoyed a brief glut in demand following the lockdown period of 2020.
Earlier in the year, however, Source projected a more optimistic picture for 2025. Anticipating that consulting in the UK would return to growth, the researchers said revenues across all firms were expected to rise by 5%, to hit £15.7 billion; and while businesses from all sectors scaled back their spending on advice – with retailers proving especially cautious amid falling consumer spending power – the study suggested nearly every industry would increase their use of consultants in 2025.
Some segments are in line to enjoy an even better year, though. According to a further update from the experts, the cyber security consulting market is expected to expand even more rapidly – amid a recent surge in cyber-attacks targeting major businesses and government entities.
Attacks on the Co-op and Jaguar Land Rover, among others, have resulted in substantial financial hits for leading businesses. Meanwhile, the rise of sophisticated attacks by criminal gangs has caused significant disruption, such as M&S, which had to suspend its online service for six weeks in April. While in some cases, this has forced the UK security services, including MI5, to step up collaboration with some of Britain’s largest companies, the private sector is also receiving a boost in demand on these lines.
Cyber consulting boom
The growth rate for cyber security consulting is forecast to almost double from 4.7% in 2024 – already above average in the consulting sector – to 9% in 2025. This is set to make the service line one of the top-performing offerings in the professional services market.
Catherine Anderson, director at Source Global Research, explained, “This significant rise in demand reflects the challenging business environment faced by companies of all stripes – beset by geopolitical tensions that push security high up the agenda, along with greater investment in technology. The widespread uptake of AI is impacting the cybersecurity landscape, too.. Our expectation is that cybersecurity services will continue to grow above the overall market for professional services for some time yet.”
In line with this, Source’s ‘Risk and Cybersecurity Services Market’ report also estimated that the global cybersecurity market will grow by over $2 billion in 2025, as revenues rise from $27.9 billion in 2024 to $30.2 billion in 2025. This rapid expansion is expected to continue into 2026, too, with four in five consulting firms predicting day rates for their cyber security consultants to expand in the coming 12-18 months – as businesses struggling to keep up with the evolving threat environment rely on continuous external support.
