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Offshore cybersecurity teams for UK businesses
Four ways to outsource cyber security
UK organisations usually choose between four models, and many combine them. The right mix depends on how much control you need, how much security work you have every week and whether you need accredited services.
| Model | What you buy | You control | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSSP or MDR provider | A monitoring or response service on the provider's platform, shared across clients | Service levels, not people | 24/7 alert coverage without building a team |
| Consultancy | Projects: audits, assessments, CREST or CHECK tests, strategy | Scope of each project | Point-in-time expertise and accreditation |
| Staff augmentation | Individual specialists added to your team | Their daily work | Filling specific skill gaps |
| Dedicated offshore team | A full-time team working only for you, employed and managed by a provider | People, priorities, tools and data | Ongoing security work at lower cost |
TalentDock provides the last two. Read MSSP vs a dedicated security team for a deeper comparison.
Why UK firms are adding security capacity
The UK government’s Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025/26, published on 30 April 2026, found that 43% of UK businesses identified a breach or attack in the previous 12 months, rising to 65% of medium and 69% of large businesses. At the same time, experienced security staff are expensive: UK job ads for cyber security engineers carried a £65,500 median salary and security architects £85,000 in the six months to 26 September 2026 (IT Jobs Watch).
A dedicated offshore team lets you cover the everyday work, such as monitoring, patch and vulnerability management, hardening, access reviews and audit evidence, while UK leaders keep ownership of risk.
Cybersecurity roles we place
Monitoring, triage and escalation on your SIEM and EDR.
Vulnerabilities, configuration, reporting.
Endpoint, SIEM, network and identity controls.
AWS, Azure and GCP posture.
Secure code and SDLC.
Security in CI/CD.
Authorised offensive testing.
SSO, MFA, PAM, access reviews.
ISO 27001, Cyber Essentials, SOC 2.
Readiness and first response.
Which threats matter to you.
Design and roadmap.
AI-specific roles, such as AI security engineers and ISPM specialists, are on our roles page.
How we build your offshore security team
1 · Scope
Your tools, risks, hours and compliance needs; we recommend roles and seniority.
2 · Assess
Hands-on technical tests, certification checks and police clearance certificates.
3 · Interview
You interview and choose every person.
4 · Secure onboarding
Managed devices, access through your identity provider, NDA and data transfer agreements.
5 · Run
They work your tickets and runbooks; we handle employment, payroll, HR and equipment.
6 · Scale
Add roles or shifts as the programme grows, with replacement cover.
Keeping an offshore security team secure
Access you own
Accounts live in your identity provider with MFA, least privilege and logging. You can revoke access in seconds.
Managed devices
Encrypted, centrally managed laptops with EDR; no personal devices.
People checks
Police clearance certificates, references and certification checks before any offer.
Data protection
UK GDPR restricted-transfer paperwork (IDTA or Addendum) and confidentiality terms; Sri Lanka’s Personal Data Protection Act 2022 applies locally.
More detail: is offshore cybersecurity safe?
What offshore cybersecurity costs
| Role | UK median salary | TalentDock from |
|---|---|---|
| Cyber security analyst | £50,000 | £1,695 / month |
| SOC analyst | £53,000 | £1,695 / month |
| Security engineer | £65,500 | £2,295 / month |
| Penetration tester | £65,000 | £2,295 / month |
| Cloud security engineer | £75,000 | £2,295 / month |
| Security architect | £85,000 | Quoted individually |
UK figures: IT Jobs Watch, permanent job ads, six months to 26 September 2026. Employer NICs, pension, recruitment and equipment come on top of UK salaries; TalentDock fees are all-in. Model your own numbers with the cost calculator or read offshore cybersecurity cost.
Why Sri Lanka for cybersecurity
Sri Lanka is 4.5 hours ahead of the UK in summer and 5.5 in winter, so analysts can start before your day and cover your evening. English is the working language of its technology sector, and its universities and professional bodies produce graduates in computing and information security. Compare locations in UK vs Sri Lanka cybersecurity or see our Sri Lanka delivery centre.
Frequently asked questions
What is cyber security outsourcing?
Using an external provider for some or all security work: a managed service, a consultancy, or dedicated specialists employed by a provider but working only for you.
Is it safe to outsource cyber security offshore?
It can be, if access runs through your identity provider with MFA and least privilege, devices are managed, staff are vetted, and data transfers are covered by UK GDPR paperwork. Clearance-bound roles should stay in the UK.
How much does offshore cybersecurity cost?
TalentDock fees start at £1,695 a month for analysts and £2,295 for engineers and testers, all-in. Senior roles are quoted.
Is this a managed SOC or MSSP?
No. We provide dedicated people who work in your tools. If you need a 24/7 service on a provider platform, an MSSP or MDR may suit; many clients use both.
Can you provide a whole security team?
Yes. See dedicated cybersecurity teams for example structures.
Do offshore staff have UK security clearance?
No. SC and DV vetting generally require UK residence, so we do not place staff in clearance-bound roles.
How quickly can we start?
Shortlists typically arrive in under two weeks; start dates depend on notice periods.
Who is accountable for our security?
You are. Offshore specialists do the work under your direction; risk ownership stays with your UK leadership.
Can they work UK hours?
Yes. Shifts can overlap your day fully or partly, and early UK mornings are covered naturally by the time difference.
DSIT and Home Office, Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025/2026, 30 April 2026; IT Jobs Watch UK permanent job-advert salaries, six months to 26 September 2026; TalentDock pricing, September 2026.
Plan your security team
Plan your offshore security team
Tell us your tools, risks and hours. We will recommend roles and send an all-in monthly cost, with no obligation.
Offshore teams for UK businesses, managed end to end. Dedicated talent in Sri Lanka & the Philippines, trained to your standards.
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