The DIST Cyber Security Sectoral Analysis 2025 provides valuable insight and advice for navigating cybersecurity threats in the UK. It emphasises that the cybersecurity industry must innovate and adapt continually to address new and emerging technologies, along with wide range of complex cybersecurity threats.
The latest sectoral analyses highlighted that cybersecurity is a booming and dynamic industry in the UK, and it thrives on innovation, regulatory evolution and strategic collaboration.
For Managed Detection and Response (MDR) and other cybersecurity service providers, this latest report not only illustrates that cybersecurity is a growing market, but it serves as a call for continuous development of defenses, investment in innovation and the building of partnerships that strengthen the digital ecosystem.
The Market Opportunity
DIST’s latest analysis reports that in the past year the UK cybersecurity sector, generated £13.2 billion in revenue and contributed £7.8 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) to the UK economy. This represents a 12% increase in revenue compared to the previous year and demonstrated both the sector’s resilience and the growing demand for cybersecurity solutions. Employment figures have also grown significantly, with the industry now supporting 67,300 jobs, including 6,600 new roles created in the past year alone.
The DIST report highlights the critical role of AI, automation and machine learning in the future of cybersecurity. AI-driven security solutions are now a core component in 52% of the solutions delivered by cybersecurity companies, with 14 specialist providers emerging who focus exclusively on AI security. These technologies enable MDR providers to predict, detect, and neutralize threats faster than ever before, reducing response times from hours to minutes.
Additionally, software security is still a dominant segment, with 960 firms offering software security services, including 93 dedicated exclusively to this niche. MDR providers must integrate advanced analytics, behavioural threat modelling, and automated response mechanisms to remain competitive in this evolving landscape.
For managed security service providers, this latest report also points to the need to scale operations, innovate and position themselves at the forefront of the increasingly complex cybersecurity market.
New methodologies using artificial intelligence, machine learning and other automation not only work to enhance threat detection but they are capable of quickly and accurately converting vast amounts of data into actionable intelligence. This will enable faster, predictive identification of threats, vastly reducing the window of vulnerability.
MDR providers, for example, that embed these advanced analytics into their service will be better equipped to pre-empt and neutralise risks in real time. The technological landscape is forcing a rapid re-evaluation of traditional defense models and it is clear that the industry must innovate constantly. The cybersecurity service and solutions providers who do not will risk being left behind.
The Importance of Collaboration
The DIST report highlights record-breaking investment levels, with £206 million raised in cybersecurity deals in 2024. No organization, no matter how good they are, can operate and succeed completely in isolation. It is clear from the report that innovative partnerships are increasingly important to cybersecurity.
For example, industry leaders are forming alliances with niche technology startups, specialized risk management firms and even with academia so that they can integrate state-of-the-art capabilities into their solutions.
These collaborative efforts help to accelerate the development and integration of innovative new and enhanced technologies, from anomaly detection platforms to robust threat intelligence sharing networks.
Obrela provides a good example of this type of strategic collaboration in action. By merging its managed detection and response capabilities with comprehensive risk management services, Obrela shows how partnering across disciplines delivers a unified, resilient cybersecurity platform.
Obrela is a prime example of this strategic collaboration in action. By merging our MDR capabilities with comprehensive risk management services, we demonstrate how cross-discipline partnerships deliver a more unified and resilient cybersecurity platform.
Our technology partnerships with industry leaders such as our strategic cooperation with Microsoft as members of MISA, as well as Palo Alto, and IBM among others broaden our threat intelligence, streamline incident response, and improve operational agility, leading to a more integrated and effective security service that delivers real cyber resilience.
Emerging Technologies
New technologies are quickly changing the way organizations detect and respond to cyber incidents. For example:
· Advanced AI driven analytics: The next generation of security tools do not just react, they predict. Deep learning models are enabling more proactive threat hunting, reducing response times and mitigating risk before an incident escalates.
· Automation and orchestration: The integration of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and orchestration engines helps to automates containment and remediation actions. This means that MDR providers can respond more quickly to threats, while also freeing up human experts to focus on strategy and analysis.
· Secure cloud and hybrid architectures: As enterprises increasingly migrate to hybrid cloud systems, it is essential to secure distributed digital assets. MDR providers are now incorporating zero-trust architectures, micro-segmentation and continuous cloud monitoring to better protect sensitive data.
These technological avenues already more than just, they are already essential components of any modern, resilient cybersecurity strategy and provide more rapid and effective incident resolution.
The Obrela Approach
Obrela stands out as a good example of how cybersecurity service providers should fuse innovation with strategic technology partnerships. At the heart of Obrela’s solution suite is SWORDFISH® – a real-time risk management platform that is designed to unify threat detection, risk management and incident response under one umbrella.
The SWORDFISH® platform is built on three core capabilities:
· Visibility: It delivers unparalleled situational awareness across an enterprise’s digital universe. By centralizing security data, it enables organizations to monitor and manage risks continuously, transforming vast streams of information into actionable insights.
· Readiness: Obrela’s Threat Detection and Response service streamlines security operations through orchestration and automation, significantly reducing meantime to detect and respond to incidents. This readiness is essential for mitigating risks before they escalate into significant threats.
· Resilience: Obrela’s solutions focus on building resilience and provide the capability to adapt and evolve rapidly to changes in the environment. Its Managed Risk & Controls (MRC) solution extends beyond traditional measures, incorporating comprehensive privacy management, compliance and supply chain security services.
Obrela’s approach has been recognized as delivering industry-leading performance in recent Gartner reports. Through its SWORDFISH platform, Obrela not only provides
immediate threat remediation but also offers the intelligence needed to prevent future incidents—making it a model for how MDR providers can achieve a seamless, resilient defense posture.
Looking to The Future
Today, market growth, technological breakthroughs and regulatory shifts are all converging, which means both challenges and opportunities for the industry. For MDR providers, the key to success and delivering cyber resilience to customers lies in in embracing advanced analytics, forging strategic technology partnerships and deploying solutions that are both integrated and innovative.
By working with a cybersecurity service provider like Obrela, who has a clear commitment to visibility, readiness and resilience is operationalized through a unified platform— organizations will improve their overall cyber security posture and be well placed to face new and emerging threats.
One thing is clear from the latest DIST report – in this dynamic landscape, the decision to innovate is not simply a tactical one; it is a strategic imperative that will define tomorrow’s defenses.
