Cyber security

Your business can thrive in Scotland

With a large financial centre and increasing expertise in cyber security, Scotland provides a massive opportunity for cyber security organisations to grow and diversify.

Scotland’s cyber security companies are growing fast. And our universities are filling their ranks, producing exceptional talent through cyber security courses and qualifications at undergraduate and graduate level.

The opportunities to grow your cyber security business are Scotland-wide. How? While Edinburgh is Scotland's tech centre, Glasgow has a growing pool of software developers. And Dundee, with its long history of computer games development, already has expertise in providing account security online.

Strength in numbers

Scotland’s cyber security sector includes banks, global tech firms and innovative SMEs.

Where better to grow in the UK? There are already six Security Operations Centres (SOCs) in Scotland, and 15 financial institutions with cyber security departments. This includes banks such as RBS and Tesco Bank and other organisations - Dell, ATOS and SecureWorks among them.

Other companies in the sector include SMEs such as ZoneFox, which develops software to monitor internal threats for large organisations, potentially limiting the risk for thousands of companies globally.

A sector driven by rigorous academia

Your company can benefit from brilliant talent. Scottish schools and universities deliver leading courses in cyber security, giving you access to highly talented cyber security graduates.

Scotland was first to introduce national qualifications in cyber security in schools – and five Scottish universities run dedicated cyber security courses. Abertay University, for example, was the first in the world to offer an ethical hacking degree.

Benefitting from over 15,000 tech graduates a year, your organisation can draw on qualified professionals. Many companies often recruit students even before they’ve graduated.

PwC has expanded its cyber security practice in Scotland to help our clients become internationally competitive, respond to regulatory changes and create sustainable employment.
Colin Slater, partner at PwC

Industry and academia: connected

Get connected with Scotland’s universities, which have strong links with the private sector, government and other public sector organisations.

The Data Lab, Scotland’s data science innovation centre, supports local industry by ensuring staff have the skills to apply the latest data science to their roles. Meanwhile, Edinburgh Napier University’s Cyber Academy brings industry and academia together. Its Virtual SOC provides facilities for companies to test cyber security in a safe environment.

Cyber security firms in Scotland all benefit from this collaborative approach, working closely with these innovation centres, academic centres of excellence and government policy decision makers.

Get the right business support

We can give your company all the help you need to invest in Scotland.

We will work with you closely before, during and after your investment, helping you to find the right:

Premises
Staff
Funding
Partners and suppliers

Find out more about how we can help

Our network of global staff can help identify the right location for your company to make the most of Scotland's modern infrastructure.

Tell us a bit about your business and a specialist from your region or sector will get back to you.

Get in touch with us

Sharon Hamilton

International sector head