GO PHISH
WE ‘ GO PHISHING ’ WITH MARK BELGROVE , HEAD OF CYBER CONSULTANCY , EXPONENTIAL-E , WHO TELLS US ABOUT LIFE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE OFFICE .
wWhat would you describe as your most memorable achievement in the cybersecurity industry ?
Once when I was working for a large global company as CISO , the business was hit by a ransomware attack – a CISO ’ s worst nightmare of course , but
one that we ’ re always preparing for . Fortunately , it was one of the proudest moments of my career , even if it was also one of the scariest ! My team and I ensured the incident was contained , that recovery was prompt and that we suffered no reinfections . We also implemented additional security controls following
I ’ ve experienced working for managers who simply command or tell their employees what to do and I ’ ve found that it ’ s just not a good way of getting the best out of people . the event to prevent similar attacks from happening again , and to this day , there haven ’ t been any further incidents like that one within that organisation . You always wonder how these incidents will play out and it was reassuring to know you can survive them .
What first made you think of a career in cybersecurity ?
I actually worked at Yellow Pages for a number of years not long after leaving university . I moved between various departments during my time there and after some time , was given the opportunity to work in security , which proved to be my calling . I was very passionate about the job and eventually became the company ’ s CISO . I ’ ve been in the security industry ever since .
What style of management philosophy do you employ with your current position ?
I ’ ve experienced working for managers who command or tell their employees what to do and I ’ ve found that it ’ s simply just not a good way of getting the best out of people . That ’ s why , as I began managing my own employees , I made it my mission to encourage and educate them . I quickly saw that it made them feel motivated to continually learn , push themselves and further develop their skills . Every one of my team has ambition , drive and a passion for the industry , and that ’ s what I try to bring out in them . I never want them going home feeling as though they don ’ t have the opportunity to shape their own path . It ’ s about focusing on developing themselves and their careers .
What do you think is the current hot cybersecurity talking point ?
We live in a very exciting time when digital is becoming a huge part of all our lives and the future possibilities of technology appear endless . That said , I think it ’ s hugely important that everyone is educated effectively on the security risks associated with these new technologies . Every individual needs to realise and understand that data is now the main currency of criminals and industries and the connotations that brings .
How do you deal with stress and unwind outside the office ?
I have a large family and two dogs , so it ’ s a busy household and I don ’ t get a lot of time to think about stress or relieving it . When I do get the time , my favourite way to unwind is to go mountain biking with the dogs early on a weekend morning when the sun is just rising and most people are still asleep . It ’ s very peaceful and gives me the opportunity to get some fresh air and clear my mind . www . intelligentciso . com
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