Matthew Lane

Spear’s Review

Matt Lane is a former UK intelligence officer who has gone on to co-found and direct XCyber, a cyber security firm that offers state-grade services to its clients.

‘To me, “state-grade” means developing responses in a manner that mirrors how a nation state considers its defensive and offensive positions,’ he says. Lane advocates for a ‘whole-of-system’ approach, meaning ‘taking into consideration every aspect of the way that someone lives their life online’.

XCyber helps clients to think about cyber threats in a holistic way. ‘It’s not just about having the latest firewall on your computer,’ he says. ‘It’s more about behaviour, how people interact with their digital lives.’ 

Adviser Profile

The online world provides myriad threats for business and individuals alike, and it’s those uncertainties that Matt assists his clients in navigating, whether preventively or reactively. 

Matt has been ‘behind the headlines’ in responding to several high-profile incidents and events that have gathered national and international press attention – providing his clients with the assurance they need that their requirements are being addressed with meticulous tenacity and attention to detail, with discretion remaining paramount. 

An analyst by trade and mindset, Matt has pioneered many innovative investigative techniques over the years and has found solutions to a wide variety of complex, enduring, intractable, and typically multi-jurisdictional digital issues faced by individuals and businesses alike. He particularly advocates the use of a ‘whole of system’ approach when examining and responding to these challenges and opportunities – identifying and instructing relevant resources to manage complexity effectively and efficiently. 

Having previously spent more than 11 years advising UK and Foreign Government entities around the world on their covert cyber requirements, Matt remains particularly knowledgeable on the intersection of the human and cyber experience, including the potential risks and rewards of transitioning the digital domain effectively. Matt is especially well-versed in open-source intelligence gathering and research (OSINT) and unconventional cyber operations, and spent several years conducting computer forensics work. 

As the co-founding CEO of X Cyber Group – who solve problems with state-grade intelligence expertise, across the core themes of digital trust, safety, and security – Matt typically engages with his clients in an advisory capacity, including ensuring they get the best value from XCyber®'s specialist capabilities and services.