Cybersecurity Strategy Consultant

Work Experience Overview

This role focused on elevating cybersecurity from a technical concern to a strategic business imperative for a rapidly growing technology firm. Working as part of a specialised consultancy team, I developed and presented comprehensive strategic recommendations to executive leadership, emphasising the business-critical nature of robust security governance within high-growth technology organisations.

As part of the Executive Advisory Team at King's College London, I was responsible for analysing security vulnerabilities and business risks for a successful tech start-up that had rapidly expanded from 4 to 30 employees while growing its client base to include telecommunications providers and financial institutions. This project-based position involved working directly with board-level stakeholders to drive organisational change in security posture and governance.

Key Outcomes

Transformed executive perception of cybersecurity from a purely technical concern to a strategic business imperative

Developed comprehensive implementation roadmap for Cyber Essentials controls aligned with the company's growth trajectory

Created tailored risk assessment framework that identified 7 critical vulnerabilities in the client's cloud infrastructure

Key Responsibilities

Conducted thorough analysis of existing security controls against UK government's Cyber Essentials framework
Evaluated security implications of the client's rapid business growth from regional to international operations
Developed strategic recommendations for board-level security governance
Identified critical security vulnerabilities specific to cloud-based service providers
Created compelling communication strategies to engage executive stakeholders
Prepared and delivered innovative presentation methodologies for executive audiences
Collaborated with cybersecurity specialists to develop practical implementation guidance

Strategic Advisory Evidence

Business Impact Analysis

Development of comprehensive assessment demonstrating the direct financial impact of potential security breaches on the client's service offerings and reputation

Growth-aligned Security Planning

Creation of a phased implementation roadmap that balanced immediate security needs with long-term strategic objectives while accommodating rapid organisational growth

Executive Communication Strategy

Design of innovative presentation techniques specifically crafted to engage executive stakeholders and overcome "security fatigue" at board level

Regulatory Compliance Mapping

Comprehensive analysis of security requirements across international jurisdictions relevant to the client's expansion plans

Technical Achievements

Successfully mapped NCSC Cyber Essentials controls to the specific technical environment of a cloud-based analytics provider
Developed comprehensive threat modelling for sensitive data processing in multi-tenant cloud environments
Created strategic risk assessment framework specifically tailored for rapidly scaling technology businesses
Implemented industry-specific security controls for financial services client requirements
Designed practical roadmap for security control implementation alongside business growth
Conducted gap analysis between current security posture and regulatory requirements for international expansion

Technologies and Frameworks Used

NCSC Cyber Essentials

NIST Cybersecurity Framework

Cloud Security Alliance Controls

Risk Assessment Methodologies

Strategic Communications

Executive Advisory Techniques

Threat Modelling

Stakeholder Engagement

Regulatory Compliance Mapping

Experience Impact & Reflection

This consultancy role significantly enhanced my ability to translate complex technical security concepts into strategic business imperatives that resonate with executive leadership. The project demonstrated the critical importance of effective stakeholder communication in driving organisational change around security practices.

Working with the Executive Advisory Team provided invaluable experience in engaging with board-level decision-makers on cybersecurity matters. The innovative presentation approach we developed—combining role-playing scenarios with video elements demonstrating real-world security breaches—proved highly effective at maintaining executive engagement and driving meaningful action.

Our team's final presentation to the client's board successfully transformed their perception of cybersecurity from a peripheral technical issue to a central business concern. Following our engagement, the client implemented all recommended security controls and established a dedicated security governance committee with board-level representation, demonstrating the significant impact of our strategic advisory work.

The consultancy methodologies implemented during this project demonstrate my ability to:

Translate technical security concepts into business-relevant strategic imperatives
Engage effectively with executive stakeholders on complex security matters
Develop practical implementation roadmaps aligned with business objectives
Balance immediate security needs with long-term strategic goals
Drive organisational change through compelling communication strategies