This shift to Asa-Service means customers have increased choice and flexibility which can help with financial planning and the need for continuous improvement cycles .
Firstly , is the abundance of As-a-Service models for infrastructure , platforms and software that are changing the proximity vendors have to their customers and forcing partners to be focused on delivering services and add-ons that will drive more value and stickiness for the customer . This shift to As-a-Service means customers have increased choice and flexibility which can help with financial planning and the need for continuous improvement cycles . The downside is that the technology providers and partners alike have also had to be flexible in the way they engage customers and the compensation models they use to drive growth and profitability , whilst retaining top sales and marketing talent .
What is your management philosophy ?
My management philosophy is that my role is to make my team the best they can be by providing them with the right tools and removing as many barriers as I can .
I am pretty flexible in my style and will work with each individual in a way that I believe will help them stretch themselves , improve and ultimately encourage them to own their sub-section of our business . I want each person on the team to have the confidence to challenge our business to improve and change but in return , we must remember that it is incumbent on us to deliver back on our commitments through the achievement of our goals .
When you look back at your career , what has been the most memorable achievement ?
I ’ m still growing and developing myself , so I tend to look forward rather than backwards . It is important to recognise where you came from and how you get to where you are though . Memorable personal achievements come and go , but the most rewarding for me are when it is someone I have helped or managed who has broken through a barrier , changed the perception of themselves or achieved something special .
What made you think of a career in technology ?
I was always interested in technology and was lucky enough to play around with a BBC Microcomputer when I was younger . This probably laid the foundations for being interested in technology and how it can be used to improve lives , make better decisions and power some of the largest and most important organisations on the planet . Despite flirting with a career in science , the draw of tech pulled me back in and I can ’ t see it letting go any time soon .
What do you think will be the hot technology talking point of 2022 ?
There are plenty of analysts and industry commentators that are better qualified than me to talk about hot technology talking points , but I think one definite theme that we are seeing in the security space is what I call ‘ connected security ’ or the industry has called extended detection and response ( XDR ).
Many organisations have taken the welldocumented defence-in-depth approach and were encouraged to buy technology from multiple vendors to meet their needs and reduce reliance on one technology supplier . However , in this world of continuous cyberattacks coming from external and insider threats , there is a need more than ever to connect the dots between the users , the devices and the infrastructure .
What are your personal interests and where do you like to spend most of your time after work ?
I have a young family with two spirited and energetic boys that keep myself , and my wife busy at weekends and evenings running between clubs and societies . When I do get time for myself , I like to cook and entertain – we ’ re not talking MasterChef , just some good quality food and drink . I used to play football and rugby , but my body resists that so now I ’ m more likely to watch that on the TV . If I ’ ve got the energy , then I often go for a run or jump on my Wattbike to try to hold back the incessant march of time and my belly . •
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