In episode 39, Mandy Haeburn-Little is joined by three members of the Microsoft team: Marc Carney, Director, Security Solutions Group; Gabriela Gradden, EMEA Security Sales Director; and Joseph Boland-Scott, Security Product Manager.

The team began by reflecting on a transformative period for the cyber security landscape, with an increase in ransomware and much more targeted attacks, impacting critical infrastructure and supply chains with the use of sophisticated AI-driven resources.

Mark highlights that Zero Trust frameworks are anticipated to become standard practice which will drive innovation in identity management and authentication solutions, helping to streamline and enable robust capabilities to identify users.

Gabriela talks about Microsoft’s mission statement, ‘Empowering every person and organisation on the planet to achieve more’. She explains how it is more than words and how it actually shapes everything the company does. As an example, she cites the Secure Future Initiative, which was brought about because of the Midnight Visit attack on Microsoft and how this multi-year commitment to how they design, build, test and operate their technology for everyone, starting with Microsoft’s 100,000 employees, all of whom are tasked with putting security first.

Joe points out that as one of the most attacked entities in the world, Microsoft has the challenge of dealing with this and the unique opportunity to learn from these attacks as the threat landscape evolves.

He emphasises that password-related attacks increased tenfold in 2024, highlighting the continued importance of identity protection like multi-factor authentication. He also talks about a need for a change in attitude whereby security is not simply one of the focuses; it must become the central focus for all businesses.

Mark states that Microsoft’s security posture is stronger and more advanced than it’s ever been but warns that the threat environment hasn’t stood still. Attackers are more sophisticated and have better resources, especially with the use of AI and automation. So even though Microsoft has up its game, the threats have matched the pace. So it’s about continuous investment and improving their capabilities and resources, which they are committed to doing in the UK.

Gabriela also touches on the repivoting of attackers; so, as we become more able to deal with sophisticated AI-based attacks, criminals are going back to basics; human, phishing and identity-based attacks are rising, so it is more important than ever to get the basics right and make sure your people trained and are able to identify these threats.

The team also talk about the persistence of attackers and how they are prepared to stay hidden in an organisation’s systems, sometimes for years. He quotes some valuable examples that clearly demonstrate the ongoing need to get the basics right. Patching, training vulnerability management etc. must be priorities.

AI is, of course, a hot topic, and Mandy explores what AI means to the business community. Mark explains the enormous benefits and opportunities offered by AI not only in improving efficiency, productivity and processes but also in the detection of security threats.

They also talk about products like Microsoft Security Copilot that protects organisations at the speed and scale with a generative AI-powered assistant for daily operations in security and IT.

In a broad-ranging conversation, Mandy and the Microsoft team also cover topics like Microsoft’s approach to the democratisation of knowledge, carbon emissions from data centres, and how they decide on areas of focus. Deepfake is also discussed, and how it is becoming much more common and one of the top threats to businesses.

In episode 38, Mandy Haeburn-Little is joined by two members of the Logistics UK team, the first company from the transport sector to join the National Cyber Resilience Centre Group as National Ambassadors; they are Nigel Smart, Director of IT & Development and Natalie Chapman, Head of Public Affairs.

Nigel begins the conversation by highlighting that while Logistics UK is a membership organisation, it prefers to be known as a business group. In fact, they are the only business group in the UK that represents all logistics, from road, rail, sea, and air, to the buyers of freight. Logistics UK is about representing its members by campaigning governments, ensuring their compliance, training and providing a media presence; its mission is to continue to be in the top three business groups that people turn to for advice in the logistics sector.

Natalie then explains in more detail her department’s role and how they work closely with the UK and the devolved nations’ governments, MPs, backbenchers and policymakers to influence political decisions. Their lobbying and advice are all evidence-based, which is why Logistics UK is heavily involved in research and reporting. But it’s not just about gathering the evidence; they work hard to present the information in the correct formats for the target audience, be it politicians, media or the general public. It’s about highlighting how logistics plays a critical role in underpinning the UK economy.

Mandy and Natalie go on to chat about a few of the big issues impacting the sector, such as the UK’s ranking on the Logistics Productivity Index and how that has slipped 15 places since 2013 to a current global position of 19th. Also, how they are identifying investment priorities to ensure critical infrastructure is fit for purpose to help minimise congestion and delays. Natalie also talks about their work in decarbonisation and how they are leading the discussion on how we achieve net zero and what they are doing to assist with the skills shortage in the sector with initiatives such as Generation Logistics.

Nigel explains why cyber is high on the agenda at Logistics UK and notes that awareness of the threats and the general interest in cyber has noticeably increased throughout the organisation in the last year, and how they intend to pass on this knowledge to their members in the future.

Nigel also expresses the reasons why Logistics UK was keen to become a National Ambassador and how he is particularly looking forward to working with like-minded people and benefiting from the mutual learning opportunities of being involved with fellow National Ambassador companies.

In episode 37, Mandy Haeburn-Little is joined by two members of the team at Akamai, the newest member of our National Cyber Resilience Centre Group National Ambassadors. Mandy chats with Richard Meeus,

Director of Security Technology and Strategy EMEA, and Matt Payne, Regional Director, EMEA Financial Services Industry and Public Sector at Akamai Technologies.

The conversation starts with a brief background about the origins of the company and its name, explaining how a water cooler moment at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) back in 1998 led to what is now Akamai, an engineering-led organisation with a platform specifically designed to provide scale and resilience.

The team provided interesting examples of how notable events, such as the release of the original Star Wars trailer, were a test and validation of the platform’s design and ability to deal with large volumes of traffic.

Richard and Matt also explain the three main verticals of the business, which are Delivery (of content), Security, and Cloud. However, they are quick to highlight that it’s Akamai’s ability to bring all of these elements together that makes it unique and provides a platform where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.

The two also talk about the importance of their Security Operations Centre, which provides customers with direct access to over 250 experienced and competent engineers. They also explain the value of their State of the Internet Report (SOTI Report), which gathers data firsthand from the information Akamai sees daily, providing a view of what’s evolving and what’s changing in terms of threats.

During the engaging conversation, Mandy asks Richard and Matt if we are getting better at dealing with ransomware attacks and about the impact of AI on cybercrime; both provide insightful and thought-provoking answers to all of the questions in what is a most interesting and open conversation.

In episode 36, Mandy Haeburn-Little chats with two of the team at Nationwide Building Society, a valued member of our portfolio of National Cyber Resilience Centre Group National Ambassadors. Rachel Vigor, Business Services, Governance, Risk & Controls Director and Sharon Gould, Supplier Security Manager, Business Services GRC, join Mandy on this episode.

The conversation opens with Rachel providing a snapshot of Nationwide’s history and what it stands for. She outlines what it means to be a Mutual and why being owned by its members enables Nationwide to operate with genuine social and community purpose. So, rather than paying shareholders, they are able to spend their money building a safe and secure organisation, giving back to local communities, offering competitive rates, and sharing it with their members.

Rachel and Sharon talk about the company’s approach to risk, outlining why it is important and how it encourages open, honest and transparent conversations that not only maintain operations and keep members safe but can also identify opportunities.

Speaking specifically about risk in relation to the supply chain, they highlight how they are leveraging new technology to establish risk profiles and enhance technical controls. Again, they are keen to emphasise that working with suppliers, particularly around SMEs and cyber security, is an extremely collaborative approach, with clear communications about their expectations while being realistic about the resources available to smaller organisations.  

They also talk about their current dual-branded NCRCG/Nationwide supply chain campaign to encourage SMEs to join their local Cyber Resilience Centre. In addition, they explain why they are working closely with IASME to promote and endorse Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus.

Finally, Rachel is asked the burning question about Nationwide’s acquisition of Virgin Money. She explains that it’s early days, but reassures listeners that they’ll use the experience of over 250 previous acquisitions to proceed with care as they integrate the two dynamic brands!

In episode 35, Mandy Haeburn-Little chats with David Scutt, Head of Software Sales EMEA at HP, the global technology leader, operating in 170 countries and shipping three devices every second! 

David begins the conversation by outlining the core focus areas of the business, which are Personal Computing & Printing, 3D Printing, Hybrid Work, and Gaming. Essentially, they provide innovative workforce solutions where security and sustainability are non-negotiable deliverables across everything they do.

David provides some insight into how they maintain cyber security across the business using things like the HP Work Relationship Index to gain valuable insights into user needs and trends. He cites an astonishing example whereby their research revealed that only 27% of knowledge workers responding to a survey believed they had the tools to do their job! David goes on to explain why this information is essential to enable HP to provide innovative solutions that ultimately make work easier while improving efficiency and productivity.

Mandy and David also discuss the HP Customer First Community, where employees share customer experiences to help build solutions and address specific problems, reinforcing HP’s commitment to enabling users to work without worry by focusing on making products secure by design.

David also explains why becoming a National Ambassador was important to HP, and he acknowledges the importance of the SME community to the UK economy, many of whom are HP customers. 

Sustainability is paramount at HP. David explains what they are already doing to ensure materials are in use longer. He highlights that 95% of home and office printers shipped in 2023 included recycled materials, and HP-branded paper and paper-based packaging are derived from certified recycled sources. These are just a couple of examples of HP’s approach to sustainability, which is central to everything they do.

It’s an interesting conversation that provides genuine insight into HP and how the user experience drives everything it does.

CyberVersed episode 34 is the final podcast of 2024, and fittingly, Mandy Haeburn-Little caught up with Nik Adams, Assistant Commissioner, City of London Police and Chair of the NCRCG National Ambassador Steering Group. Their conversation highlights the progress made during 2024 and, more importantly, outlines the opportunities and goals for NCRCG and the CRC network for 2025.

Nik and Mandy reflect on the range of National Ambassadors and why it’s essential to explore and understand the vulnerabilities sector-by-sector and work in partnership with the National Ambassadors in their respective sectors to encourage and support their supply chains to become more cyber resilient. Nik also touches on the fact that it’s not only about having the proper companies in each sector but also about tapping into the expertise and experience of the right people within their organisations.

During the engaging conversation, they also discuss the invaluable work being done in the nine regional centres and the commitment and passion shown by their teams to support SMEs in their communities. Nik highlights their vital role in collaborating with the National Ambassadors to deliver consistent messaging and guidance to their SME suppliers locally.

The two also discuss the critical part that the Cyber PATH programme plays for cyber students whereby they deliver assistance to SMEs and, at the same time, gain valuable real work experience that is encouraging more young people into cyber and developing a talent pipeline for policing and law enforcement. They also note how Cyber PATH is addressing diversity and identifying how the programme is attracting a range of people, particularly those who are neurodivergent.

Throughout the podcast, Mandy and Nik refer to the National Ambassadors and express gratitude for their support, the current National Ambassador portfolio includes:

AVIVA, CGI, Chainalysis, CompTIA, HP, ISC2, Logistics UK, Mastercard, Microsoft, Nationwide, NatWest Group, Resilience, SANS, SAS, Sir Robert McAlpine, The Very Group, and Trustify.   

Finally, we wish all of our listeners a Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year.

In CyberVersed episode 33 Mandy Haeburn-Little catches up with one of the founding ambassador companies, The Very Group. She is joined by Muktar Mahama, Head of Product and Digital Experience, in a truly insightful conversation about The Very Group’s total commitment to customer experience and the continuous monitoring and refinement to ensure the complete customer journey is the best it can be.

Muktar explains the process and how various teams, known as ‘squads’, collaborate in every aspect of the buying experience. He describes the responsibilities of each squad, which comprise Product Design, Research & Development, Onboarding, Discover, PDP (product detail page), Checkout, My Account and Mobile App. It’s a fascinating look at what each team does and how they work together to refine every customer touchpoint and address any pain points they can identify through meticulous monitoring. Muktar also provides some insight into the scale of the business, which has 4.3 million customers and around one million visitors every day. He also touches on how they cope with the peak times around Black Friday and the lead-up to Christmas when the site experiences around a 30% increase in daily traffic.

Muktar also provides some information about his recent graduation from the Ethenic Senior Leaders Programme, something he is passionate about and strongly recommends to other business leaders.

CyberVersed episode 32 focuses on Trustify, one of the newest National Cyber Resilience Centre Group’s National Ambassadors. Mandy Haebrun-Little talks to John Madelin, Advisory Board Member at Trustify. John is a highly respected cyber professional with 30+ years of experience in the design, build and management of Cyber Security. It is evident during the conversation that John is passionate about delivering high-quality security solutions that are accessible to the SME community.

He provides his views on what is often overcomplicated messaging and the need to demystify and simplify the topic of cyber security. It is refreshing to listen to John as he demonstrates an excellent understanding of the issues faced by SMEs and how Trustify works with each client to understand and adapt their offering to meet the unique challenges of each organisation. Beginning with a risk assessment, they quickly address what are usually straightforward issues that get the client to a point where they can ‘sleep at night’. Then, the focus is on a customised action plan that addresses issues relevant to the business.

John talks about the importance of detection and the critical need for continuous monitoring. However, he again demonstrates his desire to uncomplicate things by emphasising that there are only 15 signals used by cybercriminals to get into your systems. Indeed, he offers a case of champagne to anyone who can cite a material cyber incident that doesn’t fall within one of the 15 signals!

John’s passion and energy are evident throughout the conversation, especially towards the end when he explains why he is looking forward to collaborating with NCRCG to help make cyber resilience more attainable to the SME community and the work he’d like to do around inclusivity and encouraging young people into careers in cyber.

In episode 31, Mandy Haeburn-Little chats with members of the team at Sir Robert McAlpine, a valued member of our growing portfolio of National Cyber Resilience Centre Group National Ambassadors. Mandy is joined by Andy Black, Chief Information Security Officer, and Rachel Lloyd-Moseley, Head of Procurement – Nuclear.

Sir Robert McAlpine describes itself as a family building and civil engineering company with a desire to be renowned for their work with clients and communities as they construct a better world for future generations.

Sir Robert McAlpine’s strong family values indeed come across in the discussion, which looks at the history of the company, the sectors where they work and the inter-department collaboration across a wide variety of projects. The chat also explores why Sir Robert McAlpine joined NCRCG as a National Ambassador and how it is a perfect fit with their commitment to raising awareness of cyber security throughout their supply chain.

It’s a fascinating and engaging conversation during which Andy and Rachel provide examples of how the company is embracing AI to achieve greater levels of efficiency and safety.

In episode 30, Mandy Haeburn-Little chats with members of the team at ISC2, the latest National Cyber Resilience Centre Group National Ambassador. Mandy is joined by Ed Parsons, VP, Global Markets & Member Relations; Dr Sanjana Hehta, Senior Director, Advocacy; Andy Woolnough, EVP, Corporate Affairs; and Alex Mortimer, Manager, Global Academic Partnerships.

ISC2 is the world’s leading membership association for cybersecurity; it is probably best known for its gold standard certification, CISSP. However, as you will discover on the podcast, there is much more to the organisation. The team talked about the work they do in research, training, and certification. They also explain the vital work they do in advocacy to ensure the relevant policymakers understand the needs of their members in three main areas of focus: workforce development, professionalisation of the sector, and critical issues of the day.

During the discussion, Ed Parsons also explains why ISC2 decided to become a National Ambassador and how they see the NRCRG model as a perfect fit to demonstrate their commitment to making an impact in the UK, particularly in developing and expanding the cyber talent pipeline, and working closely with the regional centres to make a positive impact in local communities.

In Episode 29, we turn on another National Ambassador, Baseel Group. Mandy Haeburn-Little is joined by the dynamic husband-and-wife team that is the driving force behind Baseel. Paresh Deshmukh is the Group CEO, while Poorva Deshmukh is the Group Managing Director.

Baseel is familiar to the CRC network; they have been working with multiple centres as Cyber Essentials Partners, but, in line with their global operation and ambitions, they have become National Ambassadors of the National Cyber Resilience Centre Group. During the conversation, they explained the global nature of the business and how they use specialist partners with particular areas of expertise, which enables them to offer multiple high-quality services and solutions to all customers, regardless of their requirements.

They also explain their appetite for innovation and development, which keeps Baseel at the forefront of technology. Paresh teases listeners by sharing a few of the products in development, such as a Happiness and well-being platform and another to provide end-to-end funding solutions for businesses of all sizes.

Paresh and Poorva also share their reasons for becoming National Ambassadors and their wish to be involved in various workstreams and the Cyber PATH programme, which aligns perfectly with their global Intern Programme.

It is clear from the conversation that Baseel has solid values and a desire to give back to the business community. Both Paresh and Poovra speak with passion about the Baseel ‘family’ and what they are doing to give back to the business community and their charitable work through the Maulee Foundation, an organisation dedicated to promoting sustainable development and improving the lives of marginalised communities around the world.

Once again, it is an open and passionate discussion led by Mandy that reveals the genuine and core values on which Baseel Group is founded.

In episode 28, we return to the important topic of Diversity in Cyber, and a second episode devoted to Neurodiversity.  Mandy Haeburn-Little is joined by Karen Blake, CEO of Tech Talent Charter, and Caroline Turner, Founder and CEO of Creased Puddle. Karen’s mission with Tech Talent Charter is to drive inclusion and diversity across the tech ecosystem. She discusses the need to equip organisations with practical insights to make a real difference and encourage senior-level buy-in. She highlights that this starts with recognising why data is essential, understanding how to interpret it, and what to do with it. Karen also shares her thoughts on how we ensure we’re not working within a system that is set up for neurodiverse people to fail.

Caroline Turner’s reasons for launching Creased Puddle were based on personal experience. She is an ex-police officer whose son was diagnosed as neurodivergent. In her quest for information, she discovered there was a lack of quality guidance and support, and any that was available focused on a deficit narrative, which she believes only tells half the story. This, and her drive to improve the understanding and neurodivergence within the criminal justice system led her to start the company. She outlines why it’s essential to work with companies to identify their specific requirements and then deliver training that meets these needs.

It’s a compelling episode that celebrates the progress that has been made in recent years. However, both guests are quick to highlight what still needs to happen if we are to tap into the opportunities of embracing a neurodivergent workforce. Both are not only passionate but also highly knowledgeable on the topic, which makes it an engaging, interesting, and worthwhile episode.

In episode 27, we return to our National Ambassador Focus to introduce our latest National Ambassador, Resilience. On the podcast, Mandy Haeburn-Little is joined by four senior members of the Resilience team: Si West, Director, Customer Engagement; Rehan Hussain, Head of Underwriting, International; Jack Jenner, International Head of Distribution & Strategy; and Tom Egglestone, Global Head of Claims.

Si West opens the conversation by stating Resilience’s mission is to make businesses cyber resilient to material losses. He goes on to explain that they do this by helping companies assess, measure, and manage cyber risk by connecting risk quantification software, in-house cybersecurity expertise, and insurance into a single solution. This enables continuous improvement and clear alignment across risk, therefore improving cyber security and financial leadership by translating security threats and controls into actionable financial prioritisation.

The conversation among the team explores a number of facets that make Resilience’s offering unique and innovative. During the chat, they discuss how they assist clients in communicating in a financial language that resonates with the Board, something they believe is essential if adequate cyber budgets are to be maintained. They ably explain why “Being able to quantify risk is a game changer”.

They also discuss how they are bringing a risk management culture to cyber and how they build rapport, starting with their innovative onboarding approach for new clients.

It’s an interesting discussion that covers a wide range of topics related to the business and its products, such as the Risk Profile Builder and the Breach Attack Simulation tools. It also provides some interesting insights into the variances of risk across different countries and how they adapt to the nuances of local markets.

In our latest episode of the Cyber Versed podcast, we continue with our mini-series on Diversity in Cyber; this time, we are looking at Neurodiversity. Three exceptional guests join Mandy Heaburn-Little: Dr Emma Philpott MBE, CEO at IASME Consortium; Jonathon Ellison OBE, Director of National Resilience and Future Technology at the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC); and Jess Burden, Security Engineer at IASME Consortium.

During the discussion, all three more than adequately explain the numerous advantages of employing neurodivergent people. Both Jonathon and Emma outline how they have not only embraced neurodivergent workforces but also demonstrate the many benefits and how both organisations are thriving because of it. Indeed, Jonathon explains that he considers their attitude towards recruiting a broad range of neurodivergent people as ‘mission-critical’.

Jess Burden also provides an open and very honest insight as a neurodivergent employee who has progressed in IASME to become a security engineer. She explains very clearly some of the challenges faced by her and many others and how her colleagues and the culture at IASME have helped her progress and grow as an individual and a valuable employee.

All in all, it’s a great insight into neurodivergence and the vital role a neurodiverse workforce can play in the success of all businesses of any size.

In Episode 25, Mandy Haeburn-Little speaks to the team from SAS, the latest addition to the growing number of National Ambassador organisations.

Mandy is joined by Caroline Barnett, Principal Consultant; Nicky Furlong, Senior Director, Northern Europe, Public Sector, Health and Life Sciences; David Shannon, Head of Hyperautomation, NI&UK; and Dr Iain Brown, Head of Data Science, Northern Europe.

It’s an interesting insight into the broad range of work undertaken by one of the leading global software companies to assist clients in making the best use of their structured and unstructured data. During the discussion, the team discussed a wide range of topics, from their ethos and culture to the need for transparency when using AI and Generative AI to how they predict what’s coming next. 

They cite some fantastic examples of how their work is helping in healthcare, such as their work with Patricia Maguire, Professor of Biochemistry at University College Dublin, on AI_PREMie. This potentially life-saving solution aims to empower clinicians by developing a powerful risk stratification tool that will help them diagnose and manage women affected by preeclampsia.

Mandy also poses the question about how to avoid being freightened of AI, and she invites the team to explain the difference between Artificial Intelligence and Automation. It is an informative episode from start to finish and well worth a listen.

In episode 24, Mandy Haeburn-Little takes a deep dive into the work of one of the Regional Centres—the Eastern Cyber Resilience Centre. During her conversation with the centre Director, Detective Superintendent Paul Lopez, she highlights again how Eastern CRC differs from the other centres, particularly in the type of companies and industry sectors it supports.

Paul begins by explaining how he arrived in cyber and why he thinks this role is the most important and impactful job he has done in all of his years in policing. Paul also outlines his ambitions and goals for the future. He will continue to promote the CRC network as a police-led, business-focused initiative in order to establish the Eastern Centre as a one-stop-shop for all things cyber. Paul accepts they will have only some of the answers or solutions. Still, he wants business owners to appreciate that if they don’t have the answers, they will be able to introduce the right person or organisation that will be able to help.

Paul also touches on the Cyber PATH programme and Fiona Bail‘s work in delivering this crucial element of the CRC initiative, which is building an elite talent pipeline of students who want a career in cyber.

It’s a highly positive and engaging exploration of the geographical, commercial and cyber landscape in the Eastern Region. Moreover, it adequately outlines and promotes the opportunities in policing for anyone considering a career in crime prevention or, indeed, cyber!

This is the first of a series of Cyber Versed podcasts looking at diversity in cyber. And to start the series, we’re looking at women in policing to coincide with International Women’s Day. And who better to host this series than Mandy Haebrurn-Little, who was named Cyber Woman of the Year in 2021. 

Mandy is joined by an impressive panel of women for the podcast; they are Fiona Bail, Detective Chief Inspector and Cyber PATH Lead for the National Cyber Resilience Centre; Leanne Alleyne, Chief Inspector, NPCC Cybercrime Programme, and Mary-Anne Dickson, Detective Constable NPCC Cybercrime Programme.

It is an open and transparent look at policing from a female perspective. Each guest shared their reason for getting into policing, how they found the experience at the time, and what has changed now. They also offered useful advice and encouragement for young women considering policing as a career choice, and the over-riding advice is to speak to women in your local police as a starting point. Leanne and Mary-Anne both stressed that there is a broad range of career options in policing.

Mandy also talks to them about the gender gap in cyber and the need to encourage more young women to consider technology, and in particular, cyber, as a career path. Fiona’s advice here is to explore the Cyber PATH programme, where cyber experience is not a prerequisite and where they are looking for students with a variety of skills. 

In episode 22, Mandy Haeburn-Little meets up with some of the team from The South East Cyber Resilience Centre.

Mandy kicks off the conversation by asking the centre director, Chris White, about his new experience setting up a business and being ‘Head of Everything’. He explains which skills have transferred well to his new role with the centre. Then, Chair Glen Hymers chats about how he worked with the team to build the board and set the centre up as a business. He also outlines how he views his role as Chair and how he harnesses the skills and talent around the table to deliver the best for the centre. In the process of the discussion with Mandy, he manages to pick up the new name, ‘Harmonious Choirmaster’!

It’s a great insight into the workings of a Regional Centre that adequately outlines its purpose and the passion with which its services are delivered. Other topics include a fascinating look at the global tangible and intangible assets and how that helps us define the status of the skills gap in cyber.

In this episode, Mandy is joined by Chris White, Director of South East Cyber Resilience Centre; Glen Hymers – Chair of South East Cyber Resilience Centre and Civil Servant at The Cabinet Office; Sharif Gardner – Head of Defence, Military and Law Enforcement, UK, Ireland & Nordics at SANS Institute and David Scutt – Global Head of HP Wolf Security Sales and Non-Executive Director of the South East Cyber Resilience Centre.

In episode 21, Mandy Haeburn-Little chats with some of the team involved with the National Cyber Resilience Centre for the West Midlands. She talks with the Centre Head, Vanessa Eyles, about how she came to be involved with the centre and her experience of moving from policing into running a business which was already established when she arrived. She speaks with passion about her team and their moral compass and shared vision to help the business sector become more resilient and prevent cybercrimes.

In this episode, Mandy is joined by: 

Vanessa Eyles, Managing Director, The National Cyber Resilience Centre for West Midlands

Usman Khan – IAP Consulting 

Emma Daniel – Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for Warwickshire

Martin Nash – Head of Cyber Security & Information Assurance (CS&IA) Services, CDS Defence & Security

In episode 20, Mandy Heaburn-Little explores the work of one of the Regional Centres – The National Resilience Centre for Wales. She looks at the purpose and mission of the regional centres and what the centre in Wales is specifically doing to support SMEs in the region. It is an interesting insight that highlights the ways in which government, policing, the private sector and academia are delivering positive outcomes in the local business community.

Mandy is joined on the podcast by Paul Peters, Managing Director at The Cyber Resilience Centre for Wales; Simon Tee, Managing Partner at Kilsby & Williams and Chairman at The Cyber Resilience Centre for Wales; Mike Learmond, Senior Development Manager, Wales – Federation of Small Businesses, Paul Hall, Head of Cyber and Innovation at the Cyber Resilience Centre for Wales.

In episode 19, host Mandy Haeburn-Little is joined by Stephen Ridley, Head of Cyber and Becki Betts, Commercial Lines Product & Proposition Manager, both at Aviva. Aviva is the most recent addition as a National Ambassador company and the first from the insurance sector.

During the conversation, they talk about the various cyber insurance products and services that are available to small businesses and touch on the lack of awareness of such policies among SMEs.

The two also comment on why Aviva was keen to support the National Cyber Resilience Centre Group and the Regional Centres by becoming a National Ambassador, picking out their desire to share data, knowledge and experience, and the opportunities to work with the Cyber Path programme as two of the many reasons.

It’s an interesting conversation that provides some helpful insight into Aviva and what support is available to SMEs in the event of a cyber attack.

In Episode 18, Mandy Haeburn-Little hosts a roundtable discussion focusing on Cyber PATH; all that policing is doing nationally to support students, innovation and new skills, and making sure those skills are available to the business community. Joining Mandy on the podcast are:

Fiona Bail, National Cyber PATH lead, National Cyber Resilience Centre Group

Sharif Gardner, Head of Defence, Military and Law Enforcement, UK, Ireland & Nordics, SANS Institute

James Duncan, Security Cloud Solutions Architect, Microsoft

Rania Hindy, Studying Physics/Computer Science and current Cyber PATH Student, National Cyber Resilience Centre Group

Matt Tomlinson, Associate Tutor, Cardiff Metropolitan University, and former Cyber PATH Student at The Cyber Resilience Centre for Wales

In this episode, Mandy Haeburn-Little hosts a round table discussion focusing on the need for a national voice on behalf of the SME community. It’s an inspiring, insightful and instructive discussion among the guests who are:

• Maxine Bulmer, Vice-President Consulting Delivery, CGI
• Simon Newman, CEO of the Cyber Resilience Centre for London
• Bruce Reekie, National Ambassador Workstream Project Manager, National Cyber Resilience Centre Group
• Daniel Patefield, Head of Programme, Cyber and National Security at techUK

In this episode, Mandy Haeburn-Little hosts a round table discussion about promoting the importance of cyber intelligence and cyber resilience across the Business and Third Sector community. It’s an open and insightful discussion among the guests who are: Alex Cable – Area VP, WEMEA, Chainalysis Ian Kirby – Detective Superintendent, NPCC National Cybercrime Programme & National Cyber Resilience Centre Group Paul Peters – Temporary Detective Superintendent, Director of The Cyber Resilience Centre for Wales Andy Gould – Detective Chief Superintendent, National Cybercrime Programme Lead, City of London Police Max Bruce – Strategy & Engagement Manager, NFIB Protect, City of London Police

In Episode 15, Sharif Gardner, Head of Defence, Military and Law Enforcement, UK, Ireland & Nordics at SANS Institute, provides a fascinating insight into his journey and how he ‘fell’ into cyber. In the podcast, he talks about the work SANS do and the range of training courses they provide to organisations around the globe. Sharif explains SANS’ seven cyber curriculums, which offer comprehensive courses tailored to specific skill sets. He also explains how an organisation of the SANS scale remains agile and able to provide up-to-the-minute information and solutions.

In Episode 14, Mastercard’s David Cox, Head of the European Cyber Resilience Centre, joins Mandy to discuss his role and the work done by the ECRC. David explains the principles of the four P’s (Prepare, Prevent, Protect and Pursue) and what these mean to Mastercard. In an enlightening discussion, David also discusses the organisation’s goal to bring people together to share knowledge, collaborate and become a best-in-class centre of excellence. He also explains their work with Paytechs and Fintechs and how their Strive UK initiative supports the nation’s micro and small businesses to adapt and thrive in the digital economy. David also touches on the Mastercard culture and how their ‘Decency Quota’ gives something back to the community.

In this podcast, John McDiarmid discusses how NatWest Group ensures that their cyber security development, on which their customers desperately rely, keeps pace with the ever-growing innovation within the banking industry. At the same time, Amanda Scott gives us a first-hand explanation of how NatWest’s AI-powered assistant, Cora, has become a growing digital influence in how they serve customers. 

Microsoft joins us once again to deep dive into the increasing threats small businesses are facing in the rapidly growing Cyber Security Space. Jonathan Davies discusses protecting the world, one signal at a time with Microsoft’s advanced AI and machine learning technology and Lesley Kipling helps us understand staying ahead of the game whilst navigating the rapid and sophisticated cyber-attacks of today.

Episode 11 is a celebration of newly joined NCRCG Ambassador Microsoft, as Mandy sits down with Sian John, Director SCI Strategic Growth Business Development, and Paul Kelly, Director Security Business Group, to hear about how a major global technology organisation manages the evolving threat of cybercrime at scale.  From practical tips on how to secure your everyday activity across Microsoft applications, to their expert perspective on our student Cyber PATH initiative, not only do we get a sense of reassurance to have such sharp minds leading the charge against online crime, we also gain a sense of hope – it looks like we’re winning.

In Episode 10, Ben Fletcher, Group Chief Financial Officer of The Very Group, brings us a unique perspective in his conversation with Mandy as they discuss the priorities of a role working in finance for a major retailer while juggling the increasing cyber security risks that come with being such a prominent organisation.  Exploring themes of risk, workplace culture, collaboration and more, Ben offers us a rare insight into the workings of a huge multi category retailer, with some surprises along the way.  In listening to Ben, we realise that finance is ultimately about safeguarding organisations for the future, a mission which dovetails nicely with cyber resilience and expounds the partnership between the National CRC Group and The Very Group as one of their Founding National Ambassadors.

For Episode 9, we’re bringing you a bumper special to celebrate the UK’s first National Cyber Resilience Centre Network Summit and Cyber Security Awareness Month. With four guests drawn from Centre leadership and our National Ambassadors, this roundtable conversation covers everything from our work as a National network to the increasing importance of cyber issues amongst the business community and how this is being tackled. Featuring Nick Bell from National CRC Group, Alex Cable of Chainalysis, Andy Richardson from the South East CRC, and Richard Holmes of CGI, we’re offering you a front-row seat to the most exclusive cyber discussions happening in the UK right now.

Episode 8 features John McDiarmid, Head of Security and Information Governance at NatWest Group, sitting down with our host Mandy Haeburn-Little to dive into the complexities of cybersecurity in the financial services industry. This dynamic chat covers so much – from NatWest’s commitment to staff development to working in security throughout the pandemic and the skills needed in cyber security – that we might need to follow up with a part 2!

In episode 7 of CyberVersed, Mandy Haeburn-Little welcomes Alex Cable, Regional Director at Chainalysis, one of our Founding Ambassadors. Alex discusses why she initially got involved with cyber, the rise of cryptocurrency and the importance of ensuring businesses plan for ransomware attacks. The two go on to discuss how businesses can use Blockchain to benefit their existing supply chains.

In episode 6 of the CyberVersed podcast, Mandy Haeburn-Little is joined by Richard Krishnan, Lead of Cyber and Technology at KPMG, one of our Founding Ambassadors. Richard discusses his journey within the cyber industry, the culture of KPMG and the importance of attracting new and younger peo~ple to policing. The two go on to discuss the importance of the National Ambassador Programme and what KPMG is currently doing to build cyber resilience within the UK.

In episode 5 of the CyberVersed podcast, Mandy-Haeburn-Little is joined by Richard Holmes, Senior Vice President of cyber security at CGI and one of the Founding Ambassadors of the NCRCG. Richard discusses his current role at CGI, the different CSR activities they are engaged with, the future of CGI within information technology and why CGI became a Founding Ambassador of the National Cyber Resilience Centre Group. The two also discuss the importance of bringing a balanced and holistic approach to cyber security and why context is key when implementing cyber solutions for any business.

In episode 4, Mandy Haeburn-Little is joined by Ilyas Mansha, Managing Director of Accenture Security and current Ambassador Steering Group member. Ilyas explains his background in cyber security and gives an overview of the services Accenture provides to support their customer in dealing with digital challenges. The two delve into current topics such as Ransomware, the Metaverse and the need to stay on top of technological advances. Ilyas describes how many businesses need to do more to combat the threat of cyber-attacks and discusses the current role of the National Cyber Resilience Centre Group and its plans to help improve cyber resilience in the United Kingdom.

One of the leading minds within industry, Mark has an extensive background in strengthening supply chains and is passionate about raising awareness of cyber resilience and its importance to SMEs. In this podcast, Mark discusses why he initially got involved in cyber security, the important role of the regional CRCs for local businesses and why it’s crucial to expand the CRC network and continue the debate surrounding cyber.

Angela describes her policing journey from her roots in Scotland and the challenges of balancing career ambitions with motherhood, through her move to London to focus on national crime strategies around fraud and cyber, and her recent promotion to Commissioner. The two also discuss the role of women in policing and technology in general, as well as the widening routes into policing designed to attract a diverse workforce reflective of the population they protect.

Peter explains his passion for and experience in economic crime and his responsibility for fraud and cybercrime. He talks openly about how policing is performing concerning cybercrime and how law enforcement agencies prioritise it. He also talks about the need for training and encouraging a diverse range of talents to come into law enforcement. It is an interesting discussion where they also chat about technological advances, how this offers opportunities for criminal behaviour, and what needs to be done to minimise the emerging risks this poses. The two also discuss the vital role of the National Cyber Resilience Centre Group and their desire to attract more Ambassadors from big businesses to work with them and help shape the future of cyber-awareness and fighting cybercrime.