Who we are
Specialist ICT and management consultancy, since 2006
APHS Ltd provides public and private sector organisations with specialist ICT and management consultancy. We work alongside our clients at moments of transformation and change, when they need specific, specialised skills for a defined period — whether that means starting a programme from initiation, or stepping into a delivery that has proven difficult.
We have been doing this since 2006. Our work spans two disciplines that we think belong together: securing and modernising the technology estate, and governing the change well enough that it actually lands. Most clients come to us for one and stay for both.
Capabilities
What we do
Cyber Security and Infrastructure
- Network segmentation and microsegmentation — Cisco Secure Workload, ACI, Nexus, Algosec, VMware NSX
- Zero Trust architecture and design
- Application dependency mapping and traffic-flow analysis
- Data centre design, migration and consolidation
- Software-defined networking — SDN, SD-WAN, next-generation firewalls
- Identity and access — MFA, RBAC, Cisco ISE, Software Defined Perimeter
- Cloud security across Microsoft Azure, AWS and Google Cloud
- Enterprise and solutions architecture
Portfolio, Programme and Project Management
- Strategy, policy and roadmap development
- End-to-end portfolio, programme and project delivery
- Governance and assurance frameworks for change
- Health checks and recovery of at-risk deliveries
- Risk, benefits and business change management
- Information governance, GDPR and enterprise content management
- Full lifecycle management, from initiation through to business as usual
Where we work
Sectors we know well
Critical national infrastructure · Local authority and central government · Blue light services · Health · Insurance · Financial services · Energy and utilities · Retail · Technology and service providers
We work across the United Kingdom, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Australia, South America and the United States.
Selected work
Programmes we have delivered
Network segmentation
UK critical national infrastructure
End-to-end delivery of Cisco Secure Workload across a hybrid on-premises and Azure estate of more than 5,000 servers and 2,000 business applications. Twenty crown-jewel workspaces taken from discovery through policy analysis to full enforcement, with training and handover into business-as-usual operations.
Network segmentation
Multinational European bank
Segmentation across a hybrid estate of more than 10,000 servers spanning on-premises infrastructure, Azure, AWS and mainframe. Over 2,000 agents deployed, visibility established across more than 10 billion monthly flows, 25 application workspaces analysed and five crown-jewel applications moved into enforcement.
Network segmentation
International insurer
A 15-month programme across an on-premises, GCP, AWS and mainframe estate. Microsegmentation applied to 10 crown-jewel applications, supporting the remediation of FCA audit findings and strengthening the organisation’s compliance position.
Network segmentation
US multi-campus university
A six-month engagement across a hybrid Azure and AWS environment. 407 agents deployed, visibility across more than 1.6 billion monthly flows, and microsegmentation applied to 17 key applications.
GDPR compliance
Local government
Health check, review and assurance of the organisation’s compliance position, followed by alignment of business processes and systems, sponsored by the Chief Information Officer.
Customer experience programme
National utilities
Infrastructure transformation encompassing major application upgrades — CRM, debt management, Sitecore, Avaya and mobile — alongside digital transformation across customer channels.
How we are set up
Long-standing people, not a rotating bench
Three full-time directors have run APHS since it was founded in 2006. Behind them sits a pool of around twenty specialist consultants, ten of whom have worked with us on a project-by-project basis for between ten and fifteen years. They are long-standing, trusted people rather than a rotating bench, which is why our clients tend to deal with the same faces across successive engagements.
Qualifications across the team include PhD, MBA, TOGAF, ArchiMate, PRINCE2 and MSP.
Frameworks and regulations we work to
GDPR and UK data protection · ISO 27001 · Cyber Essentials Plus · PCI DSS · FCA · DORA · NIST · NIS2 · BS 10008 · MITRE ATT&CK
The team
Who you will be dealing with
Chief Executive Officer
Azim P H Somani
Azim founded APHS in 2006 and has led the company as Chief Executive Officer ever since. With 43 years of experience spanning commercial business, international trading and real estate, he brings a seasoned and mature perspective to leadership, combining strong commercial judgement with a global outlook across a broad range of industries and disciplines.
At the helm of APHS, Azim sets the company’s strategic direction and ensures that it delivers responsibly, ethically and successfully for its clients and customers. He places particular importance on building long-standing relationships founded on trust, integrity and shared success, while continuing to develop strategic partnerships that strengthen the company’s capabilities and future growth. Throughout his career, he has also mentored numerous members of staff, supporting their professional development and helping them realise their potential.
Giving back to the community has always been important to Azim. He has served as a volunteer with Citizens Advice and was presented with a Citizenship Award at Liverpool Cathedral in recognition of his services to the community. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his large family and making the most of the outdoors.
Chief Technology Officer
Shamir Somani
Shamir has led the technical practice at APHS since the company was founded in 2006, with executive responsibility for its technical strategy, architecture capability and delivery standards. As a security and infrastructure architect specialising in microsegmentation and Zero Trust, he has led complex segmentation programmes for clients across critical national infrastructure, global banking, international insurance and government, working closely with senior stakeholders at director and executive level.
Known for his keen eye for detail and strong focus on compliance, Shamir ensures that APHS solutions are secure, resilient and aligned with recognised industry standards. He remains actively engaged with developments across the security landscape, keeping pace with emerging technologies, evolving threats and changes to regulatory requirements. His designs align with frameworks including NIST, ISO 27001, PCI DSS and NIS2, and he holds TOGAF and ArchiMate qualifications.
Away from his professional responsibilities, Shamir enjoys playing golf, travelling and spending time with his young family.
Chief Operating Officer
Yasmin Somani
Yasmin leads the business arm of APHS, with executive responsibility for the company’s programme and project portfolio, professional resources, commercial strategy and strategic partnerships. A director since 2006, she plays a central role in shaping the organisation’s direction, strengthening partner relationships and ensuring that APHS has the people, governance and commercial foundations required to deliver successfully for its clients.
With an MBA, PRINCE2 and Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) qualifications, as well as GDPR training, Yasmin brings extensive expertise in strategic transformation, information governance, compliance and ICT-enabled change.
Beyond APHS, Yasmin is committed to giving back through public service. She sits as a magistrate in Cheshire and Merseyside and previously served as an Independent Member and Deputy Chair of the Cheshire Police and Crime Panel. Away from her professional and public responsibilities, she enjoys spending time with her young family and travelling whenever life allows.
Why clients stay
What tends to keep people with us
Independent and founder-led
You deal with the same people year after year, not whoever is on the bench this quarter.
Senior by default
Our consultants lead engagements. They do not shadow someone more experienced at your expense.
We hand over properly
Documentation and knowledge transfer are part of every engagement, not an upsell at the end.
Get in touch
Tell us what you are trying to deliver.
The more you can say about the requirement, the deadline and what has been tried already, the more useful our first conversation will be. We normally respond within one working day.