Creating a more secure digital future - Why our purpose‑led approach landed us among the top vendors in The Forrester Wave™

CISOs are navigating an increasingly complex reality. Regulatory pressure is rising. Threats are evolving faster than ever. Emerging technologies from AI to operational technology and cryptography are reshaping the attack surface while transforming how organizations operate.

In this environment, cyber security is no longer a risk management function. It’s a foundational business enabler that underpins trust, resilience, and innovation.

Independent industry analysis continues to reinforce how organizations will most benefit from cyber security providers who combine technical depth with research‑led insights and a clear sense of purpose.

For NCC Group/Fox-IT, that purpose has always been clear. We exist to create a more secure digital future.

Purpose first: Cyber security in service of society

The digital ecosystems which critical infrastructure, finance, healthcare, manufacturing and society relies upon are fundamental to modern civilization. Any cyber disruption can cause huge ripple effects.

For example, in November 2025, The Bank of England announced that the UK's GDP was weaker than expected in Q3 2025, citing a cyber attack at Jaguar Land Rover as one of the key reasons.

Our purpose reflects the seriousness, importance, and responsibility of cyber security in the world today. Creating a more secure digital future isn’t just about meeting today’s threats; it’s about strengthening the foundations of trust that allow digital ecosystems to function as expected tomorrow and beyond.

Our purpose shapes how we operate:

• Investing in meaningful security research - not short‑term commercial trends
• Sharing cyber intelligence openly, where possible, to strengthen digital ecosystems
• Reducing the risk of cyber attacks and their damaging impact for our 14,000+ clients

It’s a philosophy that resonates across the cyber security industry, which is increasingly (and rightly) being recognized as a force for good within society (across the private and public sectors).  

We’re cyber specialists built upon decades of technical expertise

In a crowded consulting landscape, organizations often face a choice between broad, multi-service providers and specialists with deep technical expertise. The latest Forrester Wave™ recognizes NCC Group as firmly in the latter category in comparison to our peers.

For NCC Group, cyber security is not an adjacent capability or a support service — it’s the core of who we are. From penetration testing and red teaming to cryptography, cloud security, and industrial control systems management, NCC Group’s teams are built by experienced practitioners who live and breathe the technologies and organizations they protect.

This deep technical heritage enables us to deliver:

• Highly realistic adversarial testing
• Expert‑led offensive security engagements
• Practical remediation guidance grounded in hands‑on experience
• Educating our client’s security teams to manage future threats better

Rather than relying solely on abstract models, our work reflects how real attackers behave. In fact, many of our experts spend their careers dedicated to studying, simulating, and anticipating these behaviors.

Research and cyber threat intelligence: Looking beyond today’s attacks

A defining strength of NCC Group is our longstanding investment in independent cyber research and threat intelligence.

Our researchers continuously explore areas such as:

• Cryptographic resilience and future‑proofing
• AI and machine‑learning security
• Industrial and operational technology environments
• Advanced threat actor tactics, techniques, and procedures

This research directly influences our services by shaping penetration testing methodologies, resilience assessments, incident preparedness, and strategic advisory work.

We have a strong tradition of contributing back to the security community. By sharing important research, tools, and collaborating openly, we help raise the baseline of security for everyone — a tangible expression of our purpose in action.

From compliance to operational resilience

Regulatory frameworks such as the EU’s NIS2 and DORA are driving necessary improvements across European cyber security practices. However, compliance alone doesn’t make organizations resilient.

Market analysis increasingly highlights a need for cyber consultancies that can help clients translate regulatory pressure into real‑world preparedness — understanding how incidents unfold, how systems fail, and how people respond under stress.

Our team focuses on:

• Realistic incident scenarios
• Hands‑on response and recovery planning
• Aligning technical controls with business priorities

The goal is not simply to pass audits or avoid penalties, but to ensure organizations can withstand disruption and recover with confidence.

Transparency, trust, and European heritage

As data sovereignty and governance move up the agenda, organizations want clarity and control over how their information is handled.

NCC Group/Fox-IT’s European roots and transparent delivery model offer reassurance in a landscape where trust matters as much as technical capability. Clients consistently value our openness — not only in how we handle data but in how we communicate risk, limitations, and tradeoffs.

That honesty builds stronger partnerships and better security outcomes.

Bespoke engagements for unique cyber risks

No two organizations face identical threats. That’s why NCC Group places such importance on providing bespoke solutions.

Rather than assigning clients to fixed delivery models, we tailor each engagement to their specific context — their technology stack, threat landscape, and risk appetite. This approach enables us to deliver the right mix of services and ongoing strategic support where it has the most significant impact.

Clients often describe it as working with a partner who acts like an extension of their own team.

Staying true to our purpose

NCC Group doesn’t aspire to be the biggest cyber security consultancy. Instead, we focus on being a trusted cyber security powerhouse — grounded in cutting-edge research, technical excellence, and a clear sense of responsibility. 

For us, The Forrester Wave™’s independent recognition reaffirms the value of our approach. However, the accurate measure of success lies in the resilience of the organizations we support. 

We’re a firm believer that cyber is a team sport, and we’ll continue to champion the sharing of security tools, research, and cyber threat intelligence as openly available resources. We proudly aim to expand upon our deep technical expertise compared to the larger security vendors, whilst also acting as a key convener of advancement across the entire cyber ecosystem.

As technology and cyber threats continue to evolve, NCC Group remains relentlessly committed to that one driving purpose: creating a more secure digital future.