NIMBUS Blue has reported a significant uplift in demand for its IT and Security services over the last 12 months, resulting in profit growth and expansion of its Aberdeen-based team.
The uptick in activity has been attributed to a returned confidence in the marketplace, with companies now shifting into post-pandemic recovery, leading to delayed projects being re-instated and increased investment in technology and security tools.
A heightened awareness of cybersecurity threats for small-to-medium sized business owners, as well as larger organisations, has also contributed to an expansion in services, with Nimbus Blue generating an additional £340,000 in new business revenue over 2023 and seeing year-on-year profits near tripled.
Over the last 12 months, the company has taken on new consulting projects and onboarded new clients, including Aberdeen Football Club, who appointed Nimbus Blue to deliver a package of services to enhance their current cybersecurity posture. Work with existing clients has also increased in the last 18 months with a growing demand for 24×7, human-backed security. This led Nimbus Blue to introduce a Security Operations Centre (SOC) service for smaller businesses in late 2022.
David Tawse, Managing Director of Nimbus Blue, said: “At the heart of our service portfolio is our managed IT support, but this year we’ve seen a particular increase in cybersecurity services, such as Guided Cyber Essentials Plus and our 24×7 Security Operations Centre (SOC). This has translated to a 30% year-on-year increase in our services with the team being kept busy delivering security assessments, training, and certifications under our sister brand, Nimbus Red. As we approach 2024, this demand shows no signs of slowing down.”
From a technology perspective, cloud and software-as-a-service (SaaS) platforms are seeing increased adoption, as legacy server-based systems approach their end of life. Within Aberdeen, the shift towards cloud solution services, along with increased cybersecurity awareness, has changed how companies use technology to achieve competitive advantage and protect their digital assets.
Commenting on this shift, David said: “Cloud solution services have fast become an integral part of the way we work. We moved to 100% cloud infrastructure in 2017 and are well known in the region for our cloud services. However, in recent years, the sector focus has also changed somewhat in Aberdeen, which is influencing the type of service demand we are now seeing.
“Businesses have been looking beyond the local energy industry and expanding into public sector contracts. However, many have a mandate that bidders must hold certain certifications to demonstrate cybersecurity awareness and robust Information Management. This includes recognised certifications like Cyber Essentials and ISO 27001, which is the information security standard.
“In other sectors, we’ve also seen a huge shift in the risk level that insurance companies are willing to bear in relation to cybersecurity. As businesses have become increasingly aware that such certifications exist and the benefits and opportunities of having this, demand for this has inevitably gone up.”
To support the increasing demand around cybersecurity services and certifications, Nimbus Blue recently expanded its team with the addition of a dedicated security role, bringing in Andy Turner as Security Lead.
In addition, Stewart Houston was appointed to the team in September 2023 as Technical Operations Manager, bringing over 10 years’ experience in a senior management role. As part of the growth plans for the business, Stewart will focus on preparing the company’s systems and processes for scalability, whilst maintaining the high level of technical and customer service that the company is known for. In line with new contracts, the company also anticipates adding a further 2 to 4 technical resources to the team.
Looking ahead to 2024, David said: “This has been an exciting year for us as we’ve seen a significant increase in customers, existing and new. As a result, we’ve expanded the team, and we also embarked on a website refresh over the summer to better showcase our growing portfolio of services. In terms of the continued demand for IT and security services, we are feeling optimistic about the year ahead, and we will continue to focus on helping Aberdeen’s business community to operate securely and remain competitive.”
