Qasim Armstrong

Background

About Qasim Armstrong

I’m a strategic, client-facing cyber security leader with over a decade of experience in information security and 6+ years specialising in offensive testing. As Head of Penetration Testing, I now oversee a dedicated security department serving 100+ businesses and I lead technical pre-sales and solution-scoping efforts for new and prospective clients. In this role I- Own our subscription security portfolio - designing and delivering ongoing penetration, red team, and social engineering programs that map directly to each client’s risk profile, compliance needs, and development lifecycle- Drive technical sales, partnering with sales and client teams to translate complex security requirements into clear, business-aligned proposals and roadmaps- Build and mentor a high performing team - managing recruitment, performance, and professional development to ensure we maintain cutting-edge offensive capabilities- Shape service innovation - introducing new offerings and delivery models that increase client value and recurring revenue. Before stepping into this leadership role, I spent six years as a Senior Penetration Tester and Cyber Security Consultant, where I architected multi-year testing strategies for 40+ businesses, aligned assessments with frameworks like Cyber Essentials Plus, and coached cross-functional teams on embedding security into DevOps pipelines. I also founded and served as acting CISO of a mental health tech startup, where I developed its first risk register, BCP/DR plans, GDPR-aligned privacy controls, and integrated security into product development and CI/CD workflows. That experience sharpened my ability to translate technical risks into executive-level strategy and helped me forge a governance-driven, business-enabling approach to security. Key Certifications & Awards- CISSP - CREST Registered Penetration Tester (CRT)- CHECK Team Member - Cyber Essentials Assessor - Cyber Essentials Plus Lead Assessor - Offensive Security Wireless Professional (OSWP)- NSOCC-A / NATO Commandant’s Commendation - Operational Service Medal (Afghanistan)