JIM GILBERT

What is your name?

Jim Gilbert

What company do you work for?

Anglian Water Services

What is your position in the company?

I’m the Cyber Security Architect for IT

How long have you worked in the industry?

Fifteen years!

What do you do and in what circumstances would I come to you for something?

I provide oversight for technical designs from a cyber perspective, as well as defining as best we can the future direction of cyber security – typically through mitigating identified risks and new investments. Individuals and projects approach me to understand my view on a given piece of work from a cyber security perspective.

What’s the biggest misconception people have about your position?

That I’m a blocker! I support the business in making changes that will improve what we do, and highlight concerns I have. I’m solution-orientated, and always try to compromise / meet in the middle, balancing risk against benefit. I see myself as being pragmatic.

What soft skills should someone in your field have?

Listening and trying to see the challenge from their perspective. Compromise also a good one – in a perfect cyber world, the data would be locked up in a box that no-one can access, but that’s not reality. We have to work in a way that allows the business to operate as securely as we can get it,

What is the best job decision you’ve ever made?

Honestly? “Joining” the Cyber team in Anglian Water. I say “joining” as there wasn’t a Cyber team before Steve approached me. Steve promoted the need for cyber security practices at the Board level, and I got on with defining what “good” looks like at the day-to-day level. It wasn’t really, but I felt like we were trailblazing!

What is the worst job decision you’ve ever made?

I joined a reseller as a pre-sales technical consultant – listening to the sales team promising their clients unrealistic solutions, and then having to try to rein them all back to reality. I’m not money-orientated, and value honesty and openness over commercial gain.

Describe yourself in three words?

Honest, Open, Inquisitive.

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

Fireman – the eyesight test got me!

What do you consider your greatest personal achievement?

It may be seen as a cliche, but my family. I’m nothing without them.

What is the most important lesson that life has taught you?

Just go for it, don’t regret not doing something.