Tag Archives: NCSC

Professionalising Cyber: Reflections from Conway Hall

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A first-hand reflection on the UK Cyber Security Council’s recent “The Journey to Professionalisation” event at Conway Hall, exploring the ongoing professionalisation of the cyber security sector. Highlights include the expansion of recognised specialisms, the development of the UK Cyber Skills Framework, and discussions on AI, early-career challenges, and the need for a more inclusive, realistic skills framework to support a growing cyber economy.

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Scaling Cyber: A Startup Founder’s Journey from Idea to Exit

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This virtual book is a guide to the entrepreneurial journey, drawn from real-world experiences in cyber startups. It distils insights from my time on the NCSC for Startups accelerator (cohort 13, 2023), the DSIT Cyber Runway Scale programme (2024/2025), and my mentoring on DSIT’s Cyber ASAP programme. It’s a collection of lessons, reflections, and hard-earned knowledge from the founders, investors, and industry leaders I’ve met along the way. Thanks to Marcel Duchamp you can think of it as a “ready made”, a curated work built from my blog articles, assembled to help you navigate the path from startup to scale, and beyond.

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Overview, Summary, Thoughts, and Recommendations on the NCSC Cyber Security Risk Management Guidance

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This article evaluates the NCSC’s Cybersecurity Risk Management Guidance, highlighting its strengths in broad coverage and practical tools but identifying key weaknesses, including the lack of an integrated end-to-end framework, inconsistent depth, and limited audience-specific tailoring. It recommends strengthening the framework’s integration, providing accessible tools, addressing organisational resistance, and incorporating strategies for emerging technologies and black swan events. These enhancements could elevate the guidance to a truly comprehensive standard for diverse organisations.

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Masking and Personality Typing: An Asperger’s Perspective

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This article explores how masking, often necessary for those with Asperger Syndrome, complicates the accuracy of personality typing systems. Drawing from personal experiences in a challenging post-war inner-city environment, it critiques the limitations of these systems in truly capturing one’s authentic self and offers insights into the interplay between identity, masking, and neurodiversity.

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Comparing SaaS GitHub and Self-Hosted GitLab: An In-Depth Analysis of Pros and Cons with Alternatives

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On the penultimate day of the NCSC For Startups programme, there was an ad hoc discussion on code repositories and DevOps tooling. A couple of the cohort were long-time GitHub users, while we use a self-hosted version of GitLab. One of the teams had just moved from the latter to the former, while the final team used Azure DevOps. I thought it would be nice to write up an objective look at the first two options, along with alternatives, as well as summarise our decision. I didn’t want to cover Azure DevOps as I’ve just spent two years using it and I’m grateful to have escaped its clutches. Learn more here.

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“What’s Causing a Rise in Seed-Stage Valuations?”: Analysis, Key Takeaways, and Advice

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In response to Beauhurst’s article “What’s Causing a Rise in Seed-Stage Valuations?” on seed-stage valuations, this critique offers a concise analysis, highlighting strengths, areas for improvement, and key takeaways. We delve into the complex landscape of seed-stage valuations, exploring the factors behind their rise and assessing the article’s contribution to the discussion.

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Thriving in Perpetuity: Simon Sinek’s Infinite Mindset in Action

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Explore how Simon Sinek’s Infinite Mindset model can revolutionize organizational strategy and leadership in our comprehensive analysis. This article provides an in-depth look at the model’s principles, showcases their application within the cybersecurity pioneer Cyber Tzar, and offers a step-by-step guide to cultivating an infinite mindset in your own organization. Learn how to lead with vision, adapt with courage, and build a legacy of sustained success.

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Empowering Success Through Purpose: Mastering Simon Sinek’s Golden Circle Model

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Discover the essence of Simon Sinek’s Golden Circle model in our latest article, where we explore its foundational principles and offer a practical guide to applying it in your organization. Learn how to articulate your purpose, differentiate your approach, and clearly define your offerings to inspire and achieve lasting success. Whether you’re enhancing cybersecurity with Cyber Tzar or navigating another sector, this article provides the insights you need to connect deeply with your audience and turn vision into action.

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Crafting Compelling Value: Mastering the Value Proposition Canvas and Mapping

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Unlock the full potential of your business offerings with our in-depth guide on the Value Proposition Canvas and Mapping. Learn how to align your products and services precisely with customer needs, crafting a value proposition that speaks directly to your target audience. This article provides a step-by-step approach to understanding customer requirements, optimizing your offerings, and communicating value effectively, setting the stage for enhanced customer satisfaction and business success.

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