Managed cyber security for schools, care providers and small businesses
Cyber security does not need to feel frightening, expensive or built only for large organisations. It should be practical, proportionate and clear, helping you protect your organisation without adding more stress to your day.
Black Swan Cyber helps organisations across Derbyshire, South Yorkshire and North Notts protect Microsoft 365, email, devices, backups and client data.
“We can’t thank Black Swan Cyber enough for their cloud backup solution. Knowing our school’s vital files are safely backed up gives us real peace of mind.”
Not sure whether your cyber security is actually good enough?
You may already have antivirus, Microsoft 365, backups and IT support. But when an insurer, client, governor, regulator or supplier asks harder questions, "we think we're covered" is not always enough.
Black Swan Cyber helps smaller organisations understand what is exposed, what can wait, and what to fix first.
- Microsoft 365, email, devices and backups reviewed
- Clear priorities, not scare tactics
- Practical support for Cyber Essentials, insurance and compliance questions
No hard sell. No jargon. We'll tell you what matters, what can wait, and what probably is not worth spending money on yet.
Local support: Chesterfield · Derbyshire · Sheffield · South Yorkshire · Mansfield
The free security check is the starting point
Most people come to us with a concern, not a shopping list. The first call helps you work out whether you need a small package, a managed service, a Cyber Essentials plan, or just a few sensible changes.
- What is already working
- Where the obvious gaps are
- What to fix first
Need security thinking, not just another IT add-on?
We focus on the areas attackers use first: accounts, email, devices, passwords, patching, backups and recovery.
Nobody wakes up thinking, “Do you know what I’d love today? More cyber security software.”
Usually, something has happened. An insurer asks a difficult question. A client wants proof. A tender needs Cyber Essentials. A phishing email lands a bit too close to home. Suddenly, “we think we’re covered” does not feel like a strong enough answer.
An insurer has asked harder questions
You need to show MFA, backups, patching, endpoint protection, email security or staff training are properly in place.
A client or supplier wants evidence
You are being asked to prove your organisation is safe enough to work with. "We have IT support" may not answer the question.
Cyber Essentials is needed for a tender
You need to understand the controls, close the gaps and avoid a failed assessment before a deadline.
Microsoft 365 feels exposed
You rely on email and cloud systems, but you are not fully sure whether accounts, permissions, MFA and inbox rules are checked properly.
A phishing scare made everyone nervous
Someone clicked, almost clicked, or spotted something believable. Now you want to know whether the right protections are in place.
Backups exist, but confidence is low
You have backups somewhere, but nobody is completely sure what would restore, how quickly, or who would do it under pressure.
A useful first step before you spend money
The aim is simple: get clear on where you stand and what the sensible next move should be.
We ask what triggered the concern
Insurance, Cyber Essentials, client checks, Microsoft 365 worries, phishing, backups, DfE standards, CQC expectations or just a nagging feeling that things have drifted.
We look for the obvious gaps
MFA, admin accounts, email protection, endpoint protection, patching, backups, awareness training and recovery planning.
You get a plain-English next step
That might be Cyber Essentials support, Nest Protect, managed detection, Microsoft 365 hardening, backup, email security, or nothing urgent.
Cyber security rarely gets ignored on purpose. It gets delayed because the urgent stuff keeps beating the important stuff.
That is when gaps appear. An admin account nobody reviewed. A backup nobody tested. A Microsoft 365 setting nobody checked. An update that can wait until Friday, then waits until next month.
Accounts are not locked down enough
MFA may be inconsistent, admin accounts may be overused, and old accounts may still have access.
Email is doing too much work
Phishing, invoice fraud, malicious links and risky attachments usually arrive through the inbox first.
Devices are not being checked properly
Antivirus is installed, but patching, visibility and ransomware protection may not be where they need to be.
Recovery is assumed, not tested
Backups exist, but restore testing, Microsoft 365 backup and recovery ownership are often unclear.
That is usually where we come in: to bring clarity, ownership and practical protection without turning your organisation into a security department.
Not sure what you need? That is normal.
Most people come to us with a problem, not a product name. Start with the situation that sounds closest to yours.
Cyber insurance, Cyber Essentials, client checks, supplier questions, tenders or board-level reassurance.
Start here → I am worried about Microsoft 365 or emailMFA, admin accounts, inbox rules, phishing, business email compromise and cloud security settings.
Secure M365 → I need better protection and monitoringEndpoint protection, identity monitoring, managed detection, ransomware defence and 24/7 response options.
View monitoring → I am worried about recoveryMicrosoft 365 backup, server and endpoint backup, restore testing and recovery planning.
View backup →Clear, practical cyber security that protects what gets targeted first
We help you understand your risk, put the right safeguards in place and keep watch for the issues that cause real damage: account compromise, ransomware, phishing, data loss and compliance gaps.
Understand your risk
We review where you are now, what is already in place and where the obvious gaps sit.
Protect the usual targets
Microsoft 365, email, devices, passwords, backups, patching and staff awareness.
Spot problems earlier
For organisations that need it, we provide managed detection and response so threats are not left sitting in a dashboard.
Stay ready for questions
Cyber Essentials, insurance, DfE standards, GDPR, CQC expectations and client security reviews.
Want to look around first?
Search our guides and service pages, or use the links below if you already know the area you want to improve.
Cyber Essentials support
Find the gaps before the assessment does.
Email security
Reduce phishing, invoice fraud, malicious links and risky attachments.
Patch management
Keep devices and third-party apps updated without chasing people.
Security awareness training
Help people spot believable attacks before they click.
You cannot predict every cyber incident. You can prepare for one.
Good cyber security is not about pretending bad things will never happen. It is about reducing the chances, spotting problems early and knowing how to recover if something does get through.
Reduce the obvious risks
MFA, patching, secure devices, email protection, password management and Cyber Essentials.
Watch for the unexpected
Managed EDR, identity monitoring and 24/7 response options for threats that do not arrive politely during office hours.
Recover with confidence
Backups, restore testing, Microsoft 365 protection and recovery planning thought through before it is needed.
Keep evidence ready
Clear records for cyber insurance, client questions, tenders, DfE standards, CQC expectations and board-level reassurance.
Advice from someone who has seen how cyber risk affects real organisations.
Black Swan Cyber Security Solutions is led by Kevin Walker, who has spent over 20 years supporting schools, care providers and smaller organisations across Derbyshire and South Yorkshire with IT and cyber security.
That background shapes how we work: practical advice, clear priorities and no unnecessary scare tactics.
Read more about Kevin and Black Swan Cyber →
Why that matters
Cyber security advice is easy to make sound complicated. The harder job is helping a busy school business manager, care provider or small business owner understand what needs fixing first, what can wait and what evidence they may need.
That kind of conversation requires experience with real organisations, not just familiarity with products.
It is not about selling tools. It is about understanding the pressure you are under and helping you make sensible decisions.
Who this is for, and who it is not for
Good cyber security starts with honesty. We are not the right fit for every organisation, and that is fine.
This is for you if...
- You rely heavily on Microsoft 365, email and cloud systems.
- You are being asked about cyber security by insurers, clients, suppliers or regulators.
- You want straight answers and a practical plan.
- You need better protection, but not enterprise-level cost or complexity.
This is not for you if...
- You only want the cheapest possible option.
- You want a tick-box exercise with no real change.
- You expect cyber security to be completely set and forget.
- You are not ready to improve weak areas when they are found.
Cyber security support for organisations where trust matters
We work with organisations that handle important data, depend on reliable systems and need to show they take security seriously.
Schools and academies
Support aligned to education realities, DfE expectations, safeguarding and limited internal capacity.
Care providers
Practical protection for sensitive records, staff access, compliance pressure and operational continuity.
Small businesses
Security that fits real budgets and protects the systems your business relies on every day.
Real cyber security work, not generic advice
Black Swan Cyber Security Solutions is a Chesterfield-based cyber security business with public case studies, partner features, local recognition and media commentary behind the work we do.
Based near Chesterfield. Supporting organisations across Derbyshire, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, Mansfield and North Notts.
You get straight answers from someone who understands smaller organisations, local reputation and the pressure of keeping things running.
Cyber security in Chesterfield
Local support for organisations that need practical protection and clear advice.
Cyber security in Sheffield
Managed cyber security support for growing businesses and organisations across Sheffield.
Cyber security in Derbyshire
Clear, practical support across Derbyshire and nearby areas.
Cyber security in South Yorkshire
Support for organisations across Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley and nearby areas.
Cyber security in Mansfield
Practical cyber security support for Mansfield businesses, charities and local organisations that need clear advice and sensible protection.
Cyber security in Worksop and North Notts
Support for Worksop and North Nottinghamshire organisations that need help with cyber insurance, Microsoft 365, phishing, backups and Cyber Essentials.
Cyber security in Derby
Practical managed cyber security for businesses and organisations in Derby and the surrounding East Midlands area.
Cyber security in North East Derbyshire
Local support for organisations across North East Derbyshire, from Dronfield to Clay Cross and beyond.
Questions we often hear
What is the difference between IT support and what you do?
IT support keeps your systems running. Cyber security is about reducing the chance of something going wrong, spotting threats earlier, and knowing what to do if something does get through.
We often work alongside existing IT support, filling the gap between "systems are working" and "we are actually protected".
Is this only for larger businesses?
No. Black Swan is built around smaller organisations that need sensible protection without enterprise cost or complexity. That includes schools, care providers, professional services, trades, charities, parish councils and local businesses.
We need Cyber Essentials certification. Where do we start?
Start with an honest look at where you are now. We help you understand the five technical controls, identify the gaps most likely to cause problems and fix what needs attention before you submit.
Do you offer emergency incident response?
We do not offer standalone emergency incident response for organisations we do not already support. Our focus is helping clients put the right protection, monitoring and recovery plans in place before things go wrong.
What if we are not sure what we need?
That is the best reason to book the free security check. You do not need to know whether you need Nest Protect, managed detection, email security, backup or Cyber Essentials support before you speak to us.
Less guessing. Better evidence. Calmer decisions.
You know which risks matter. Your Microsoft 365, email, devices and backups are being looked after. Your insurer, client, governors or regulator can see you are taking cyber security seriously.
The aim is not to make cyber security feel bigger. It is to make the next right step obvious.
Not sure where you actually stand?
Book a free 30-minute security check. We'll tell you what's working, what's exposed, and what to fix first without wrapping it in a sales process.
Book a free 30-minute security check
"Staff aren't having to worry about whether they are compliant or not."
David Ratcliffe
Headteacher, Federation of Penny Acres and Wigley Primary Schools
This isn’t typical IT support with a security add-on
Most organisations already have something in place. Antivirus. Microsoft 365. Maybe an IT provider.
The gap isn’t always protection. It’s visibility, ownership and knowing what to do when something isn’t right.
It’s not about having more in place. It’s about knowing what’s working, what isn’t, and what to do next.
We partner with Huntress, Heimdal, Check Point and more - the tools we'd choose if it was our own business on the line.
About Kevin: Founder & lead security consultant
Kevin Walker has spent 20 years inside schools, care homes and small businesses – not selling to them. Ex Parish councillor. School governor. Charity trustee. He’s sat in the room where competing priorities fight each other and the budget always loses. That experience shapes every conversation. You get clear priorities, not a feature list. You get told what actually needs fixing, and what can wait. No process to navigate. No sales team in the middle.
Ready to discuss your security needs?
Contact Kevin directly – no lengthy sales process, just practical advice from someone who genuinely wants to help.
