Secure growth, on tap.
Senior security leadership for UK founders who don't need — or want — a full-time CISO. Founder-led, PE-aware, and proportionate to your stage.
Senior security leadership, delivered as a service.
Four areas where the work concentrates. Every engagement is bespoke — but these are the threads that run through almost all of them.
Identify and mitigate the risks that matter
A senior-led read of where you're actually exposed — not a generic 80-control checklist. Output is a prioritised, risk-proportionate plan against the gaps that move the needle for your business.
Right-size your operating model
Decide what to run in-house, what to outsource, what to automate, and what to drop. Sized to your stage, not the maximum we can sell. The goal is the smallest set of moving parts that holds up under scrutiny.
Governance that earns its keep
Policies, controls and processes calibrated against ISO 27001, SOC 2 and PE diligence — written to be read, signed off by leadership, and actually used. No 80-page binders nobody opens.
Buyer assurance, when you need it
We coach you through the security questionnaires customers, auditors and acquirers send — so the answers hold up under scrutiny, not just on paper. Particularly useful in the run-up to a funding round or sale process.
Experienced security advice without the recruitment risk or cost.
Three reasons fractional security leadership lands harder than the obvious alternatives.
AI-native, not AI-curious
Rob uses AI tools and agents extensively in Patching's operations, both through business subscriptions and APIs directly. When new features are shipped, Rob rapidly experiments to work out what works best.
Operator background
Rob has built companies from scratch, managed investors and then flipped the script to fund level, where he helped investments to succeed. From management team meetings, to Board meetings to pitch meetings and Investment Committees, Rob knows both sides of the table.
Genuinely independent advice
Rob is truly independant and doesn't have any internal incentive misalignment; his goal is to improve your security and increase your confidence.
Foundation in weeks, then a retained cadence.
Every engagement is bespoke-quoted in blocks of hours — set days and weeks, or flexible consumption, your choice. We scope each phase to your business, then move into a retained cadence once the foundation is in place.
Phase 01
Baseline
Rapid, senior-led read of current posture, tooling and top risks. Sized to what matters, not to fill a deck.
Phase 02
Roadmap
A prioritised plan, sequenced against your runway and commercial pressure — with named owners and clear outcomes.
Phase 03
Foundation
Core policies, controls and processes live and embedded. Signed off by leadership, ready for the next round of scrutiny.
Retained
Steady cadence
Rolling retainer: advisory, board reporting, diligence support and incident cover as the business grows.
Pricing.
Bespoke-quoted blocks of hours, scoped to you. Retainers reduce your cost per hour as the commitment grows.
Opening Assessment
A block of hours, bought up front.
Scoped to your business. Output as formal as you want it — most clients choose fast feedback loops and getting things done over polished decks.
- Senior-led from day one
- Findings and a prioritised plan, not a 60-slide report
- Output you can act on the same week
Retainers
3, 6 or 12 month terms.
Longer commitments reduce your cost per hour. Same senior operator, same flexible scope — just better economics the more you use.
- 3, 6 or 12 month terms
- Flexible monthly consumption, no use-it-or-lose-it
- Includes board reporting, diligence support and incident cover
Common questions.
What's the difference between a vCISO and a CISO?
A CISO is a full-time senior hire, usually £150k–£250k all-in once you load on equity, NI and benefits. A vCISO (virtual Chief Information Security Officer) is the same level of seniority, on tap, for a fraction of the cost — and without the recruitment risk. Realistically, most SMBs and SMEs don't have enough security work to keep a full-time CISO usefully busy. A vCISO sizes to what you actually need.
When is the right time to bring in a vCISO?
Usually one of three triggers: you've had a near-miss or an actual incident; a customer or investor has asked a security question you can't answer with a straight face; or you're starting to think about a funding round, audit or sale. Earlier is cheaper and less stressful — but it's almost never too late.
How is this priced?
Bespoke-quoted blocks of hours. The Opening Assessment is a block bought up front; retainers run on 3, 6 or 12 month terms with longer commitments reducing your effective hourly rate.
Do I have to commit to a long retainer to get started?
No. Most engagements start with an Opening Assessment — a block of hours, no ongoing commitment, no obligation to continue. If a retainer makes sense after that, we'll talk about it then. If it doesn't, you walk away with a prioritised plan and we part on good terms.
What if I already have an IT person, MSP or security tooling?
Good — that's a stronger starting point. A vCISO sits above the operational layer: setting direction, owning risk, making the trade-offs nobody internal has the seniority or independence to make. We work alongside existing IT and MSP (Managed Service Provider) relationships, not in competition with them.
Thirty minutes. No deck, no obligation.
I'll tell you what I'd do first — whether you engage Patching or not. That's often the most useful half-hour call you will spend this month.
Let's talk about your business.
Tell us where you're trying to get to and what's getting in the way. Thirty minutes, no obligation, and you'll leave with a clearer view of where to start.