Hello, I’m Sajid, a seasoned & empathetic Chief Information Security Officer and Cybersecurity professional dedicated to fortifying organisations against evolving threats in the digital world.

If you're here, chances are you're grappling with critical challenges that many businesses face:
• Increasing Cyber Threats
• Compliance Requirements
• Risk Management
• Lack of Cybersecurity Expertise
• Security Incidents and Breaches
• Cybersecurity Culture
• Third-Party Risk Management

You probably also want a CISO that can add value to your business through proactively managing your cybersecurity risks, ensuring compliance with regulations, safeguarding your business continuity, aligning your cybersecurity with strategic objectives, enhancing stakeholder confidence, and optimising your costs associated with your cybersecurity

Here's how I can assist you and your business in overcoming your obstacles:

𝐈𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐲𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐬, 𝐈 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐧 :
• Proactively assessing threat landscapes
• Implementing strong defence strategies
• Conducting regular security assessments

𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬, 𝐈 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫:
• Developing comprehensive compliance frameworks
• Implementing necessary controls and procedures

𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐈 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐥 𝐢𝐧:
• Crafting and implementing robust risk management strategies
• Implementing appropriate controls and mitigation measures

𝐓𝐨 𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚 𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐲𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐞, 𝐈 𝐟𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐧:
• Building and nurturing cybersecurity capabilities
• Cultivating a culture of continuous learning and skill development

𝐈𝐧 𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬, 𝐈 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫:
• Developing proactive incident response plans
• Implementing swift breach detection and containment measures

𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐲𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞, 𝐈 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞
• Promoting security awareness and compliance

𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐝-𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐈 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞
• Developing and implementing robust third-party risk management programs
• Negotiating security requirements in vendor contracts

My mission is to empower your organisation with the cybersecurity strategies and expertise needed to navigate today's digital landscape securely

Let's discuss how I can help strengthen your company's cybersecurity posture and add value to your business

I’m pleased to have recently achieved the ISACA Advanced in AI Security Management (AAISM) certification from ISACA. 

As organisations rapidly adopt AI capabilities, the conversation around security, governance, and risk management is becoming increasingly important. 

AI brings enormous opportunity,  but also introduces new and evolving risk considerations. 

The AAISM certification focuses on several key areas, including: 

• AI Governance and Program Management 
• Artificial Intelligence Risk and Opportunity Management 
• AI Technologies and Controls 

What I particularly value about this certification is that it frames AI security not just as a technical issue, but as a governance, risk, and leadership challenge. 

For CISOs and security leaders, understanding how AI systems are built, deployed, and governed will increasingly be part of protecting business outcomes. 

Still much to learn in this rapidly evolving space, but a valuable step in the journey. 

Just got to keep on top of the annual ISCA CPE's and AMF :-|

#CyberSecurity #AI #RiskManagement #ISACA #Leadership

Sajid Iqbal

Cyber Security Leader Focused on Enabling and Protecting Business Growth (CCISO, CISSP, CISM)

Excited to be joining an exceptional panel of leaders at the upcoming CSO ThreatScape Summit UK, taking place 19 March at Hyatt Regency Manchester, UK. 

Looking forward to sharing insights and hearing from peers across the industry during what promises to be a thought-provoking and energising day.
 
I will be joined by Luke Collinson and moderated by Christelle Heikkilä and the topic of the discussion will be "Security by Design: Building Defences into Emerging Technologies"
 
👉 Register here to attend: CSO ThreatScape Manchester | Foundry Events
 
 #CSOSummitUK’’

A snippet from my talk on imposter syndrome.

Still find it crazy, how so many successful people still suffer from imposter syndrome

This weekend I listened to an episode of the Smashing Security podcast hosted by Graham Cluley, now I must admit I haven't listened to this podcast in quite a long time. 

There was an interesting point of discussion around how all the big tech firms are American and we in the UK are very reliant on said tech firms whether it's cloud hosting or social media. 

The question is could the US stop these services ? 

Could they stop the Internet ?

For a long time, I thought success came from having all the answers. 

If someone asked a question, I felt I should know it. 

Looking back, that was more about insecurity rather than impact. 

However, it got me through many years 

But it didn’t make me an effective leader. 

The real shift in my career wasn’t another qualification. 

It was recognising that I don’t need to know everything. 

I need to understand what truly matters to the business. 

Earlier in my career, I tried to prove my worth by having answers. 

Now, I try to add value by asking better questions. 

If you’re an aspiring leader, maybe the goal isn’t to be the smartest in the room. 

Maybe it’s to be the best listener or the clearest thinker. 

Influence doesn’t come from knowing everything. 

It comes from listening and helping to make confident decisions. 

I’m still learning that lesson, but it’s been the most important one so far.

As organisations and technology evolve the role of the CISO continues to evolve. 

Therefore a CISO needs to wear many hats - 

* Operator : Executing cybersecurity inititives effectively 
* Risk Advisor : Articulating risks and advising the business on mitigation 
* Risk Manager : Balancing protection with operational needs 
* Strategist : Defining security strategy aligning with business goals 
* Business enabler : Ensuring security facilitates, rather than obstructs 
* Communicator : Educating everyone to protect the company 

Have I missed anything from this list ?

Fact. Faith. Belief.

Three words we often use interchangeably.

But they are very different things.

FACTS are grounded in evidence.
They can be tested, challenged, and verified.

BELIEFS are what we accept to be true.
They’re shaped by our experiences, upbringing, and worldview.

FAITH is something else entirely.
It’s what we hold onto even when we don’t yet have the evidence.

Confusing these three can cause real problems.

We sometimes treat beliefs as facts.
We sometimes expect faith where evidence should exist.

Good decision-making requires the discipline to ask:
Is this a fact supported by data?
Is this simply a belief we’ve repeated long enough to accept?
Or are we relying on faith that things will work out?

Clarity here matters.

Because growth is built on facts, challenged by beliefs,
and sustained by faith.

#Beliefs are tools not truths

Lessons from 25 Years in Technology  -  Lesson 1

After more than 25 years in technology, one thing still surprises me. 

Most failures aren’t caused by sophisticated attacks. 

They’re caused by much simpler things: 

• Unclear ownership 
• Communication breakdowns 
• Competing priorities 

Technology evolves constantly. 

But the biggest challenges remain remarkably consistent. 

They’re usually organisational. 

Not technical.

The technical controls might be there.

But organisations are complex.

And complexity creates gaps.

Over time I’ve realised something:

Problems which often look technical.

Underneath, they’re usually organisational.

Technology matters.

But leadership and clarity matter more.

At school, I was convinced I wanted to become an accountant. 

It sounded sensible. Respectable. “A proper career.” 

There was just one small problem… 

I’m terrible at maths. 

😄 Really terrible. 

Luckily after this I realised I liked working with computers, my first computer was a Spectrum 128k, which came with a cassette player to load the games :-)

My favourite game at the time was Chuckie Egg, anyone know/remember this ?

What did you want to be when you were in school ?

Been using duckduckgo go many years now.

However just found out about duck.ai

Duck.ai, takes privacy a step further by integrating AI features in a web browser.

Duck.ai
AI-Powered Search: Provides relevant, context-aware results, reducing time spent searching.
Privacy-First Browsing: Blocks trackers and highlights website privacy policies, empowering informed choices.
Customizable Interface: Users can personalize their experience with themes and AI-generated content recommendations.

Benefits
Enhanced Privacy: Minimal data collection ensures secure browsing.
Improved Functionality: AI streamlines searches, improving overall user satisfaction.
User Empowerment: Educates users on privacy settings and online behavior implications.

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