Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Because it changes the traditional consulting delivery model. Instead of multi-tier teams, billable hours optimisation, and long cycles, clients gain direct access to senior capability backed by 30 years of hands-on experience. This shifts the cost structure, eliminates inefficiency, and raises the standard of what SMEs and fintechs can expect from a cybersecurity partner.

Consultancies rely on staffing pyramids, rotating delivery teams, and processes built to maximise utilisation rather than client outcomes. Phenomlab removes this entirely. Engagements are founder led, tightly scoped, and grounded in practical experience rather than theoretical checklists.

It competes by offering a completely different value proposition. Large consultancies optimise for scale. Phenomlab optimises for accuracy, speed, and senior level engagement. For SMEs and regulated startups, this model is more effective and more aligned with real operational needs.

Security decisions require deep context, nuanced judgment, and real-world experience. Delegating critical work to junior consultants increases risk and slows progress. Founder led delivery ensures that decisions are grounded in proven, practical experience.

Whilst there is no definitive answer to this given the nature of the expertise and models on offer, we have vast experience of fintech, financial services, SaaS, health tech, and any regulated or rapidly scaling organisation that requires fast, precise, and pragmatic security leadership without excessive overheads.

By eliminating layers of management, account handling, and internal coordination that add cost but not value. The cost to the client directly reflects the expertise delivered.

SMEs, startups preparing for scale, firms entering regulated markets, and organisations facing increased security scrutiny from customers, auditors, or investors. Phenomlab is built for companies that need senior leadership but don’t require a full time CISO.

Yes, on a fractional basis. You gain senior leadership, governance, reporting, roadmap design, risk management, and board level guidance without the cost of a full-time senior hire. This model is effective for companies between 20 and 500 employees, especially in regulated sectors.

Yes. Unlike many advisory only consultancies, Phenomlab supports both strategy and hands on execution across infrastructure, cloud, security tooling, configuration, and architecture.

Stronger security posture, audit readiness, clear governance frameworks, improved incident response, better vendor risk management, hardened cloud environments, and reduced operational noise caused by fragmented or inconsistent security practices.

SOC 2, ISO 27001, NIST CSF, DORA, FCA SYSC, SEC, Cyber Essentials, and broader compliance requirements covering cloud operations, information governance, and risk management.

The approach is operational rather than checkbox driven. Controls are designed to be realistic, sustainable, and aligned to how technology actually functions. This reduces both compliance burden and long-term operational cost.

Yes. This includes evidence preparation, control mapping, readiness assessments, risk registers, policy creation, tooling configuration, and liaison with auditors. The goal is to eliminate surprises during audit and shorten the overall cycle.

Yes. Policies are built using industry standards and tailored to the organisation’s operating model to ensure they are both defensible and practical. Clients receive a full suite covering security, governance, risk, compliance, incident response, access control, cloud operations, and more.

Yes, including continuous monitoring, metrics reporting, control testing, change management reviews, and advisory support to maintain compliance as the business evolves.

Whilst not an exhaustive list, the most commonly requested areas are infrastructure, networking, cloud, security engineering, identity, monitoring, SIEM, endpoint protection, vulnerability management, zero trust, DevSecOps, vendor risk, and incident response.

Yes. Phenomlab provides secure cloud architecture, IAM controls, baseline hardening, cost oversight, logging and monitoring configuration, and compliance alignment for both AWS and Azure.

Phenomlab has 30 years of experience across physical infrastructure, data centre operations, Active Directory, virtualisation, firewalls, switching, and storage. Mixed environments are supported fully.

Yes. This includes EDR, SIEM, logging platforms, vulnerability scanners, email security, identity platforms, and cloud native tools. Selection is based on business need and technical fit, not vendor commission.

Yes. Support includes triage, containment, remediation, root cause analysis, and post incident reporting. Phenomlab can also design and test incident response plans.

Typically, within days. The absence of internal resourcing constraints means engagements do not wait for team availability. However, this also depends on the current workload, although every effort will be made to make resources available as soon as possible.

A consistent framework is used for quality and repeatability, but delivery is tailored to client maturity, risk exposure, and operational complexity. It is also possible to create custom packages if these are required.

Through clear scoping, predictable pricing, documented deliverables, and straightforward communication. There are no ambiguous hours, no resource substitution, and no upsell pressure.

Yes. Phenomlab integrates with IT, engineering, product, ops, risk, and compliance teams. The goal is to strengthen internal capability rather than replace it.

Only if deemed necessary. The focus is on optimisation, stability, and risk reduction, not wholesale replacement. Recommendations are pragmatic, evidence driven, and aligned to budget.

Security strategy, governance frameworks, board reporting, risk management, incident oversight, policy design, roadmap planning, and alignment with auditors, investors, and clients.

Fractional CISO is an ongoing leadership function. It provides continuity of oversight, accountability, and strategic direction rather than isolated project support.

Yes. Many engagements begin with establishing foundational controls, setting baselines, implementing tooling, designing cloud architecture, or building an entire security program from scratch.

Yes. Support includes responding to security questionnaires, preparing evidence, attending technical due diligence calls, and articulating controls to prospects.

Reduced incidents, improved compliance posture, increased client trust, better audit outcomes, clearer governance, lower operational noise, and faster delivery of secure infrastructure or cloud services.

Through structured roadmaps, monthly reporting, regular risk reviews, and continuous alignment with business changes. The approach is iterative and avoids stagnation.

Phenomlab is experienced with both modern cloud and legacy infrastructure. Complex estates are handled through phased remediation plans that prioritise risk and business impact.

Phenomlab is well suited to environments where change is rapid, regulatory expectations are strict, or customer scrutiny is intense. The model is designed to absorb this pressure without slowing growth.

Because clients in the SME and fintech space need predictability. Transparent pricing removes uncertainty and shows confidence in the value delivered.

Yes. Options include fixed scope projects, monthly retainers, or hybrid arrangements. The structure is based on client need, not on maximising billable hours.

Short projects are accepted, but long term fractional CISO roles typically operate on monthly retainers to ensure continuity and strategic oversight.

Through measurable outcomes, clearer controls, reduced risk, faster delivery, improved compliance posture, and the removal of operational bottlenecks. Value is not theoretical; it is visible in day-to-day operations.

All work is led directly by Mark Cutting, a senior practitioner with more than 30 years of real-world experience in infrastructure, security, cloud operations, and compliance across financial services, fintech, and regulated environments.

It provides context, judgment, and pattern recognition that cannot be gained from certification alone. Decisions are made faster and with higher accuracy because they are informed by decades of operating experience.

Yes. Recommendations are based on technical merit, regulatory requirements, and business fit. No vendor incentives influence the design of client solutions.

Precision, transparency, and senior level delivery. Clients receive accurate advice, fast execution, and a partnership built on practical expertise rather than theoretical frameworks.