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Keeping Cyber Simple

Paul Reynolds

Contact Me
  • Email

    preynolds@ydc.is
  • Location

    UK

How I can help Help

Cyber Essentials Certification Support

Pass first time with hands‑on support for the 2026 requirements - MFA, cloud devices, and 14‑day patching. Clear fixes, fast turnaround.

ISO 27001 Implementation Support

Practical ISMS implementation that’s audit‑ready and fits how you work. No unnecessary paperwork - just controls, evidence, and a plan that gets you certified.

AI Assurance

Independent review of your AI tools, data handling, and governance. Understand what is in use, what the exposure looks like, and what needs to change.

Some of my Clients Clients

Paul Reynolds multi vendored Cyber Security Consultant with over 25 years of experience

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, and Assurance Assessments via YDC, and I am an assessor for the British Computing Society as well as a Principal Cyber Security Professional for the UK Cyber Security Council. AI security and architecture work is delivered through Black Chili, my specialist consultancy in that space.

Academic: MSc, BA, DipLCM, ALCM

Management: FBCS CITP, MCMI CMgr, MCIIS

Security: CISSP, CSTM, PriCSP

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

AI Assurance Practice
Building a structured set of AI assurance services through Black Chili, covering health checks, governance frameworks, and ongoing oversight for organisations adopting AI faster than their governance has kept up.

High Assurance Environments
Architecture governance and domain leadership across critical national infrastructure and nuclear decommissioning programmes, where the consequences of getting it wrong are not theoretical.

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

ISO 27001 Implementation and Audit
Certified ISO 27001 ISMS implementation and audit, supporting clients 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.

Proven Results Across Industries Testimonials

Real reviews demonstrating my expertise in securing organisations and protecting sensitive data across multiple industries.

Ballicom
A large and well established IT Reseller

We had an element of complacency in our cyber security policies. We decided to embark on the CE+ journey in preparation for potentially becoming accredited for ISO27001 in the near future. We underestimated the vulnerabilities that existed on our set up. Paul helped us through each one to deploy policies that would solve the issue not only for the certification but ongoing for the future. Paul is extremely knowledgeable and takes a very proactive approach. We look forward to working with him again in the future.

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.

Choose a Plan Pricing

ISO 27001

from £1,500 /month

  • Practical ISMS implementation
  • Support while you lead, or full delivery
  • Audit readiness reviews
  • No unnecessary complications
Read More

AI Security

from £5000

  • Independent review of your AI posture
  • Governance framework to close the gaps
  • Supplier and platform risk assessment
  • ISO 42001 alignment included
Read More

Cyber Essentials Plus

from £1,500

  • Internal & external testing
  • Independent verification of your controls
  • Support before the assessment
  • Pass first time with clear advice
Read More

My Blog Articles

Best ISO 27001 Consultants UK (2026 Edition)
Best ISO 27001 Consultants in the UK (2026 Edition)

  ISO 27001 certification shows your clients you take information security seriously. In 2026, working with the...

Top Most Common Passwords 2026
Top 150 Most Common Passwords 2026 – Full List & How to Stay Safe

2 billion passwords were leaked in 2025. Over 7.6 million of them were “123456”. After years of...

Digital fingerprint illustration showing what a network security key is with encrypted authentication symbols and WiFi protection concept
What Is a Network Security Key? How to Find Yours on Any Device

  Quick Answer A network security key is your WiFi password. It’s the code you type to...

Abstract 16:9 illustration for a Cyber Security Consultant services in the UK: layered network map over a subtle UK outline with shield, server racks and cloud nodes connected by lines, conveying risk assessments, penetration testing, security architecture and incident response services.
Cyber Security Consultant: What They Do and How to Choose One

Quick summary: A cyber security consultant helps businesses find and fix security weaknesses before attackers do. They...

ISO 27001 Explained The Practical Guide to Building and Certifying an ISMS
ISO 27001 Explained: The Practical Guide to Building and Certifying an ISMS

Security teams are being asked to prove trust faster than ever, and buyers now expect evidence, not...

DORA Regulation: Essential Guide for Managing Vendor Risk in EU Finance

DORA regulation is changing how financial firms across the EU manage digital risk. If your organisation handles...

Ready to Strengthen Your Cyber Security Posture? Contact

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    Contact Info

    If you are looking for senior security support without the overhead of a big consultancy, get in touch. ISO 27001, AI assurance, and Cyber Essentials are the natural starting points.

    Companies

    YDC & Black Chili

    Locations

    UK

    Book a Meeting
    Cyber Security Advisory FAQs

    Large firms often pitch with senior partners but deliver through junior staff. With me, you get direct access to a Principal Architect with 25 years of experience across regulated industries and central government. No account managers, no handoffs, just senior advice focused on your actual risk.

    A pen tester finds technical vulnerabilities and attempts to exploit them. It is a point-in-time snapshot. As a consultant, I look at the broader picture: governance, architecture, risk, and strategy. The goal is a long-term security posture, not just a list of bugs to fix.

    Yes. I have led security architecture across major government programmes and worked in critical national infrastructure environments where the stakes are not theoretical. I also work regularly in FinTech, Legal, and HealthTech where compliance obligations and data risk are a constant pressure.

    No. The point is a security framework that actually works, not one that satisfies an auditor and then sits in a drawer. I focus on controls that fit how your organisation operates, evidence that is maintainable, and a process that gets you certified without creating unnecessary overhead.

    Yes. Most organisations are adopting AI faster than their governance has kept up. Through Black Chili, I offer a structured AI Health Check that maps what is actually in use, what data it touches, and where the gaps are, followed by a governance framework to close them. The natural starting point is the Health Check.