JAG Secure was shortlisted for Cyber Start-up of the Year at the Scottish Cyber Awards 2026. There were three names on that shortlist. Infrawatch, Secure Nexus and JAG Secure.

We did not win the category. We are still delighted to have been on it.

The awards

The Scottish Cyber Awards are the sector’s awards in Scotland. Now in their eighth year, they are hosted by DIGIT alongside the Cyber and Fraud Centre Scotland, and the 2026 ceremony was held on 26 March at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre.

Thirteen categories were contested and entries were assessed by an independent judging panel. In announcing the shortlist the judges noted the strength of the field across what they described as a hugely competitive year.

The company on the neighbouring lists is the part worth noting. Finalists across the other categories this year included Systal Technology Solutions, Sapphire, FullProxy, Acumen Cyber, Aspire, Approov, Morgan Stanley, NatWest, Lloyds Banking Group, Leidos, Police Scotland, NHS National Services Scotland and the Scottish Government. That is the room.

A one person consultancy on a three name shortlist

JAG Secure is a sole principal consultancy. There is no sales team, no marketing department, no investor and no board. Every engagement is delivered by the person whose name is on the proposal.

Reaching a three name shortlist in that field, having been founded in January 2024, was not the expected outcome. Awards are not the point of the work and they are not why the business exists, but recognition from an independent panel of people who understand the sector carries a weight that self description never will.

The night itself

We took a table and hosted guests including The Cyber Scheme, who have been central to the professional standards side of this industry and to our own accreditation. It was a good evening and a reminder that the Scottish cyber community is small enough that everybody in the room has some connection to everybody else.

Congratulations to Infrawatch and Secure Nexus. It was a good category to be in.

Thanks

Thanks to DIGIT, the Cyber and Fraud Centre Scotland and the judging panel for the shortlist, and to the clients who took a chance on a small independent consultancy over the last two years. The recognition belongs to them as much as anyone, because there is no shortlist without the work and there is no work without them.