Home About Simon Legrand
Author & Founder

Simon Legrand

Founder, Fyrfly Systems · Chartered Marketer · Patent inventor

I write the technical and compliance content on this site. This page is here so you can check who is standing behind what you are reading before you act on it.

3 granted patents 13 years in security technology MCIM Chartered Marketer Based in Faversham, Kent
Portrait of Simon Legrand, founder of Fyrfly Systems
About

Who I am, and why I write this

I founded Fyrfly Systems to bring the kind of physical security design normally reserved for critical infrastructure to schools and the public sector. Before Fyrfly I co-founded and ran Sunstone Systems for thirteen years, growing it into a globally recognised solar-powered surveillance and IoT platform whose systems now protect infrastructure for organisations including Chevron, Rivian Automotive, Network Rail, Intel and Telent. I hold three granted patents in that space, covering power and IoT architecture.

Before Sunstone I spent around fifteen years across the NHS, the Home Office, the Department of Health, the Department for Education and universities as a practitioner and consultant in health and social care. That earlier career is why I care about who technology is designed for, and why the writing on this site tries to keep the end user, whether a school business manager or a bursar or a council operations lead, in the frame.

I am a Chartered Marketer (MCIM) and a member of the Responsible AI Institute. I also co-founded Assistiv Systems, an NHS preventative care and frailty intelligence platform, where I sit as Chief Health Officer.

The reason I write the articles on this site personally is straightforward: what venues buy for security has real consequences for the people using them, and I think it matters that the person telling you what to buy has thought about it and is prepared to put their name to it.

Credentials

The formal background

Patents
Three granted patents in physical security technology
Inventor on granted patents covering power and IoT architecture for distributed surveillance systems.
Chartered status
Chartered Marketer (MCIM)
Chartered status with the Chartered Institute of Marketing, the professional body for marketing in the UK. Chartered status requires demonstrated experience and continuing professional development.
Professional membership
Member, Responsible AI Institute
Member of the Responsible AI Institute, working on the responsible integration of AI into physical security and public sector systems.
Sector experience
Thirteen years running a security technology business
Co-founder and thirteen-year operator of a security technology business with contracts including Chevron, Rivian Automotive, Network Rail, Intel and Telent.
Public sector experience
Approximately fifteen years in UK health and social care
Practitioner and consultant experience across the NHS, Home Office, Department of Health, Department for Education and UK universities in health and social care.
Longstanding interest
Convergence of AI and physical sensor networks
A long-running technical interest in how conversational AI, on-device analytics and sensor networks can be combined to produce security systems that are usable, honest and proportionate.
Career

Where the experience comes from

Writing

Recent articles on Fyrfly Systems

Every article listed below was written by me. Where I have relied on primary sources, they are cited in the article itself.

Complete Guide to School Security 2026 Complete Guide to Public Sector Security 2026 Independent School Security Martyn's Law Practical Guide for Schools Martyn's Law Physical Security Checklist Martyn's Law and the Protect Duty for Schools and Public Sector DfE Protective Security and Preparedness MAT Security Management Whole-School Security Approach CCTV Safeguarding in Schools CCTV Privacy in Schools CCTV Data Protection and UK GDPR Financial Case for School CCTV Choosing a School CCTV System School Security Site Survey School Security Specification School CCTV Maintenance School Holiday Security Five School Security Threats Cyber Security for Schools and Public Sector Access Control for Schools Integrating CCTV and Access Control AI CCTV Analytics for Schools and Public Sector Incident Log Analysis Public Sector Security Framework Public Space CCTV and Community Safety Tackling ASB and Fly-Tipping in the Public Sector Protecting Public Green Spaces Wireless CCTV Networks for Public Sector

This list is maintained manually. If an article has been published and you cannot find it here, it will be added on the next update.

Find me elsewhere

Beyond this site

For a wider view of what I do, including work outside Fyrfly Systems, my personal site carries the full picture. If you want to reach me directly about a Fyrfly project, email is the fastest route.

simonlegrand.co.uk LinkedIn Email me