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Paul Reynolds

Keeping Cyber Simple

Contact Me
  • Email

    preynolds@ydc.is
  • Phone

    +44-798-000-4379
  • Location

    Solihull, UK

Some of my Clients Clients

Who am I?

A multi-vendor consultant, with over 25-years of experience

I’m Paul Reynolds, I specialise in helping businesses in regulated industries – FinTech, Financial Advisors, Accountancy, HealthTech, Legal, as well as having extensive experience in retail, charitable trusts, outsourcing, hosting, banking, and local and central Government.

I am a security consultant and risk assessor, enterprise, solution, and security architect, ISO27001 specialist, and penetration tester. I have built National Technology Award-nominated applications, and I was part of the BCS Public Sector Project of the Year winning team!

I have been awarded Fellowship of the British Computing Society, as well as being a Chartered IT Professional, a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), CSTM Pen Tester (CTM eligible), and TOGAF certified architect. I hold cloud certifications with Amazon AWS and Microsoft Azure (x12), and provide cloud security consultant services to help organisations design, secure, and manage modern cloud environments. I am also a published author.

I provide IASME Cyber Essentials, Cyber Essentials Plus, Baseline, and Assurance Assessments via YDC, and I am an assessor for the British Computing Society.

My services support digital transformation, enhance security architecture, and mitigate cybersecurity threats across regulated industries.

Academic: MSc, BA, DipLCM, ALCM

Management: FBCS CITP, MCMI CMgr

Security: CISSP, CSTM

Cloud: Azure x12, AWS, GCP

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Years of Experience

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Projects Completed

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Vendor Certifications

Recent Highlights Highlights

Team Expansion
YDC and Protects go truly global, with team members across 3 continents. Fractional CTO, testing, ISO, risk assessment, and software development.

New Offices in Solihull, UK & Dubai, UAE
Solihull HQ, UK people supporting UK regulated organisations. UAE offices support our customers across EMEA.

IASME Certification Body
YDC becomes a certification body, with myself as the lead assessor for Cyber Essentials, Cyber Essentials Plus, Baseline, and Assurance

ISO27001 Implementation & Audit
Certified ISO27001 ISMS Implementation and Audit, supporting my customers to achieve a recognised mark of information security quality.

National Technology Award
Developer of a leading tuition platform shortlisted for the National Technology Award. Now entirely Free and supporting thousands of users every week!

Certified Security Testing
Leading a team of Cyber Scheme, CREST, and OSCP certified testers, supporting our customers with the finest technical testing capability available.

Cyber Security Consultancy Services Services

I provide end-to-end cyber security consulting services protecting your organization from security breaches and cybersecurity threats. My consulting services ensure regulatory compliance, business continuity, and robust security solutions across all digital transformation initiatives while maintaining optimal user experience and browsing experience.

With a focus on preventing security breaches and ensuring resilience, I align all strategies with your business objectives and compliance needs.

Cyber Security

Experienced security architect, helping your organisation stay safe in the face of evolving threats.

Testing

I am an experienced pen tester specialising in web applications and Linux / Windows infrastructure.

Risk Assessment

An expert assessor with experience of complex environments as well as critical infrastructure.

ISO27001

ISMS implementation and audit. Policies, processes, and guidance to achieve ISO certification.

Systems Design

An experienced enterprise and solutions architect, Experienced in innovative solutions at scale.

Assessments

Cyber Essentials, Cyber Essentials Plus, Cyber Assurance, Cyber Baseline, BCS Fellowship, and more!

Vulnerability Assessments

Using products including Tenable Nessus, Qualys, Burp Suite to deliver timely assessments.

Due Diligence

Analysis of tech stacks, processes, and code review, as well as cloud infrastructure supporting M&A.

Content Creation

An established cloud security and technology author, Wiz Academy & Team Ninja.

Proven Results Across Industries Testimonials

Real reviews demonstrating my expertise as a cyber security consultant in securing organisations and protecting sensitive data across multiple industries.

Karen
Cyber Security Programme Manager

Paul is technically brilliant, the best CTO I’ve worked with. Incredibly knowledgeable and strategically knows exactly what is required for an organisation. Paul is so adept at understanding the nuances and needs of a business quickly. Great to work with and a confident decision maker. I’ve worked with Paul on some very demanding programmes with complex customer organisations and it is always genuinely a pleasure; we just were always able to get things done!

Stuart
Account Manager

Paul has built an outstanding reputation for security, not only through an in-depth understanding of the latest technologies and trends but also in the ability to deliver solutions that ensure robust protection for organisations, often in highly complex and regulated environments. What truly sets Paul apart is the genuine care and commitment to creating long-term value for clients.

Bal
Security Architect

I have had the pleasure of by working with Paul over the last 10 years. I have found him to be one of the best technical Security Solution architects with brilliant understanding on how security is applicable to a business. He was my go to guy for whenever I needed help and guidance on my designs that I was producing. His experience especially around the governance and security best practices were invaluable to me personally.

Nigel
Programme Manager

I have had the pleasure of working with Paul on a number of projects over the past few years. Paul's knowledge seems to be boundless, his ability to take on new technology and quickly come up to speed and become an authority is a skill not held by many. He builds great relationships at all levels in an organisation and is comfortable working with people at the sharp end of delivery rolling up his sleeves or presenting the 30,000 foot view to senior members.

Nav
Security Consultant

Paul has a wealth of experience across a number of technical domains and a keen eye for detail. He really demonstrated these traits when he supported me in the technical governance area of the programme. I inherited a very complex and unmanageable governance function and with Paul's assistance, I was able to turn it into an efficient and scalable function capable of supporting the demanding needs of the programme.

Andrew
Project Manager

Paul was highly supportive and that combined with his wide technical and practical knowledge of IT and his familiarity and understanding of IT processes made him a key and valuable member of the project team. He is personable and able to easily work with others at all levels and despite working on other projects concurrently has always been responsive and there when needed.

Matt
Security Sales

Hugely competent technically, Paul has an extremely broad range of knowledge and goes out of his way to diligently research, and quickly become expert in, any gaps he identifies or new technologies that interest him. I am constantly impressed by his desire and motivation to keep learning. Paul is a trusted advisor to peers and senior management alike.

Joe
Principal Architect

Paul is a very professional, knowledgeable, approachable and skilled individual, with a clear wealth of experience in the role and sector. He communicates clearly, builds good working relations, is proactive, motivated and ever positive and calm, even in challenging situations. Having someone such as Paul to work with, with his strong leadership qualities, calm manner and deep technical knowledge base (in cloud, especially) was/is tremendously valuable, and he was ultimately instrumental in many of our successes.

Craig
Microsoft

I've worked with Paul over several years and on several projects. Always found Paul to be insightful, technically astute whilst also working to provide the customer with the desired outcome. A good sounding board to bounce off ideas and someone that will give you straight answers. I'd welcome the opportunity to work with Paul again, he'd be a massive asset to any team.

Matt
Amazon AWS

I have found Paul to be extremely knowledgeable in technical areas but also combines that with a pragmatic attitude to build what works for the client. He has a can-do attitude and approaches all projects with enthusiasm to get the job done. It is to his credit that client engagements frequently ask for him.

Mark
Project Manager

Paul's technical knowledge is without question one of the highest, and most thorough, I have to this day encountered. As a Project Manager having an Architect like Paul assigned to one of my projects was a massive boost. His ability to communicate with both technical and non technical people alike meant that he was just as much at home in design meetings as he was in customer meetings, which is a massive asset.

Trudi
gov.uk

Paul is unbelievably clever, pragmatic, honest and witty. His intellect and intelligence have great depth and substance and I'd have him on my IT Delivery team any day of the week as his contributions shape smart decisions and clear project direction. He's a great bloke too.

Carl
Microsoft

I had the pleasure of working with Paul on enterprise-wide transformational projects. Paul's aptitude and unquestionable talent throughout the planning, design, and delivery stages was exemplary. Paul can extol the virtues of cloud computing and communicate at all levels. I have no hesitation in recommending Paul.

Victoria
Cyber Security Advisor

I've worked with Paul for over 10 years now. He's technically astute, fantastic at solving problems and a great communicator who easily makes complex solutions understandable for non techie stakeholders and colleagues.

Sir Christopher Ashleigh-Allen
CEO

The technical assurance that Paul provided was invaluable in helping to manage other technical resources, and I’m sure without his input and assistance then several projects would not have delivered as smoothly as they did. I always had the utmost confidence in Paul, who is also a very personable chap to work with, and would welcome the opportunity to work with him again on other projects & programmes of work.

Ian
Programme Director

Paul consistently demonstrates an excellent technical design and engineering capability combined with a proactive, innovative, solution finding attitude – playing a major part in delivering the UK's first .net / blade server based infrastructure solution. Committed and hardworking with a personable and cheerful demeanour.

Tim
Head of IT

Very highly skilled technically, always the first to want to learn new technologies or take on more complex tasks. Very able to nurture more junior members of the team and he was a popular guy within his team and across the whole of the function. Very articulate when dealing with the business and senior stakeholders.

Gary
EV Programme Director

Paul is one of a small number of people I have worked with who combine an exceptional technical capability with a no-nonsense approach. His explanations come in plain English and he always delivers what he says he will, when he said he would. I look forward to working with him again, and would recommend him to anyone who wants to get the job done right first time.

Case Studies Case Studies

Choose a Plan Pricing

Content

£2000/month

  • 5 x 1,000-word articles
  • Original, well researched
  • Unlimited revisions
  • Additional requests by arrangement
  • 24hr response
Get in Touch

Testing

£4500(indicative)

  • VAPT Std Web App
  • Nessus VA
  • White/Grey/Black Box
  • Quality Reporting
  • 24/7 Support
Get in Touch

CTO

£POA

  • Named CTO for your organisation
  • A wealth of experience
  • 20hrs per month dedicated
  • Unlimited email advice
  • 24/7 Support
Get in Touch

My Blog Articles

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AI at Work: How Microsoft Copilot Could Quietly Leak Your Business Data Microsoft Copilot is becoming the...

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Secure Your CI/CD Supply Chain from Hidden Threats

Secure Your CI/CD Supply Chain from Hidden Threats In today’s world of apps and services, CI/CD supply...

Copilot Security Considerations
Copilot Security Considerations: Critical Risks Every CISO Must Address

Copilot Security Considerations: Critical Risks Every CISO Must Address Copilot security considerations present both unprecedented opportunities and...

A wide 16:9 digital illustration titled “Most Common Passwords of 2025,” featuring a dark green padlock, a password input field, and a warning icon. On the right side, a ranked table displays the top 12 most common passwords, including “123456,” “password,” “qwerty,” and “admin.” Binary code and password symbols in the background visually reinforce the theme of weak and frequently breached credentials.
25 Most Common Passwords in 2025 [Is Yours at Risk?]

25 Most Common Passwords in 2025 [Is Yours at Risk?] Your password habits might be putting you...

What to Expect from Your Cyber Essentials Plus Assessment: A Journey of Digital Confidence

What to Expect Cyber Essentials Plus Assessment: A Journey of Digital Confidence The notification arrives in your...

A detailed digital illustration of the penetration testing process, showing a simulated cyber attack with glowing green network diagrams, code analysis screens, and secure access barriers, reflecting ethical hacking and web application vulnerability assessments.
What to Expect from Penetration Testing

What to Expect from Penetration Testing Penetration testing is a great way to see how secure your...

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    Contact Info

    Let’s discuss how I can help protect your organization from cybersecurity threats, implement security strategies, and ensure robust data protection across all your information systems and business operations while maintaining regulatory compliance and business continuity as your trusted partner.

    Company

    YourDigitalCTO

    Locations

    Covent Garden, London, UK
    Solihull, UK
    IFZA, Dubai

    Call Me

    +44-798-000-4379

    Frequently Asked Questions FAQs

    Discover the most frequently asked questions regarding cyber security consultants, risk assessments and penetration testing.

    What makes organisations vulnerable to cybersecurity threats and security breaches?

    Organizations face cybersecurity threats from various attack vectors including social engineering, data breaches, security incidents, and cyber risk from inadequate security controls. These threats can impact sensitive information, personally identifiable data, and basic functionalities of the site. As a cyber security consultant, I help identify potential threats and implement security measures to protect against the potential impact of these attacks.

    I implement comprehensive security testing including penetration testing, vulnerability testing, and security assessment methodologies. My approach includes establishing proper security architecture, access controls, and multi-factor authentication systems. I provide detailed information through technical reports while maintaining your cyber security posture and protecting sensitive data across all operating systems and information systems.

    Cloud security is critical during digital transformation initiatives as organizations adopt cutting-edge technologies. I help organizations implement robust cloud security measures, secure log-in systems, and security solutions that protect sensitive information while ensuring optimal user experience and browsing experience. My cyber security strategy aligns with business objectives while maintaining regulatory compliance.

    I provide security awareness training, professional development programs, and expert advice for cybersecurity professionals. This includes guidance on best practices, communication skills development, and specialized training for Information Systems Security Professionals. I help teams understand industry standards, regulatory requirements, and establish effective security management practices that support their specific needs in the field of cybersecurity.

    I hold multiple security certifications including CISSP, CompTIA Security+, and serve as a Cyber Essentials assessor. With a bachelor’s degree and over 25 years as a cybersecurity professional, I maintain deep expertise in security strategies, risk management framework, and industry regulations. My proven track record spans the United Kingdom and United States, with experience in UK Government standards, regulatory compliance, and serving as a trusted partner for organizations across various industries.

    The potential impact includes data loss, regulatory fines, reputational damage, and operational downtime. By working with a cybersecurity professional, organisations can proactively reduce this risk and strengthen their cyber security posture.

    I ensure your digital transformation efforts are secure from the ground up — aligning security architecture with business goals, reducing vulnerabilities, and maintaining compliance while deploying cutting-edge technologies.

    Yes. I support a wide range of operating systems including Windows, Linux, and macOS, ensuring secure configurations, updates, and system hardening across environments.

    I implement layered security strategies tailored to your specific needs — including encryption, secure log-ins, incident response, and data loss prevention — to protect sensitive information and personally identifiable data.

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