Here at The Cyber Resilience Centre for the South East, we work with a group of excellent local organisations we call our Trusted Partners. Trusted Partners are official providers of Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus Certification to our local businesses and charities.

To celebrate and recognise each of our Trusted Partners we have launched a brand new #TPTalks blog series, starting with Kieran Fowler, Head of Cyber Consulting at Waterstons.

What is your role?

I’m Kieran Fowler, Head of Cyber Consulting at Waterstons, an IT and business consultancy.

What’s something an outsider wouldn’t know about your industry?

People are often surprised just how many skills and roles exist under the umbrella of ‘security’. We have pen testers (the technical ‘hacker’ types), policy specialists, strategy advisors, risk managers and more. There isn’t a ‘security person’ that can do it all.

What originally got you interested in your current field of work?

I was a Detective in the Metropolitan Police Cyber Crime Unit before moving to Waterstons. This gave me a great insight into protecting organisations which I had a passion for.

What career advice would you give to your younger self?

Get a mentor! I have been very fortunate to have been given some great advice to help my career, and I wish I got one much earlier.

Who or what inspires you in your career?

I saw a lot of victims of cybercrime and frustratingly most of it was preventable. It didn’t matter to the attackers that some victims were charities, including one researching cancer, that lost valuable data. Some businesses also collapsed. Whilst working on one operation we had a couple victims of the same fraud tragically end their lives. It might be a digital crime, but the impact is very real. I work to stop that potential harm.

How did you become a part of the SECRC?

I worked with the pre-requisite to the SECRC whilst in the police and saw the value they provide first hand. I wanted to continue to support the SECRC and became a trusted partner.

What’s your favourite way to spend a day off?

Spending some time with my young boys, I won’t be able to run around with them in soft play forever! If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? It’s got to be a roast beef dinner.

What activity instantly calms you?

Can’t beat a de-stress run.

What's the phone app you use most? WhatsApp.

How would your 10-year-old self, react to what you do now?

He’d think it’s amazing I was a Detective … and probably gobsmacked I stopped doing it. I’d probably understand again by the time I’m 16.

If you could relive one moment in your life, which would it be?

My honeymoon in New Zealand was incredible. If you ever get the opportunity – go!

What’s something that you are proud of?

I’m very proud of the team we have built at Waterstons. They are doing a great job helping more clients than I had ever hoped to. They are also building some innovative and exciting ways to keep our clients improving their security.

The Cyber Resilience Centre for the South East exists to support sole traders, micro-businesses and SMEs across the region. We offer free membership which will inform you of the current threats gathered by policing intelligence, as well as providing simple steps to take to reduce your vulnerability to an attack. We also offer an opportunity to speak to our Head of Cyber and Innovation regarding your cyber security and concerns.