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In this episode of CTO Insights, Paul Stringfellow sits down with Rob Plummer, IT and Security Director at Fletcher’s Group, to explore the intersection of technology, leadership, and business growth. Rob shares his journey from hands-on IT roles to leadership positions, his philosophy on empowering teams, and his approach to driving rapid business growth through scalable IT strategies. Discover how passion, trust, and adaptability are critical in today’s evolving tech landscape.

Chapters:
00:00 Welcome to CTO Insights
00:46 Rob's Career Journey and Specialization in IT Leadership
03:21 The Role of Technology in Business Growth
08:58 Challenges and Strategies in IT Leadership
15:53 The 10X Principle for Rapid Business Growth
18:28 Decision-Making in Technical Strategy
20:23 Importance of Business-IT Dialogue
23:44 Tips for IT Leadership
32:36 Providing Pro Bono Technical Support
36:10 Final Thoughts

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In this special episode of CTO Insights, Paul Stringfellow dives into the human side of cybersecurity with Malcolm Murphy, Sales Engineering Director at Mimecast UK and Ireland. Together, they explore how attackers exploit human behavior, the evolution of threats across collaboration platforms, and the importance of fostering a security-first culture within organisations.

Discover why shifting from seeing people as vulnerabilities to empowering them as frontline defenders is crucial. Plus, learn how Mimecast’s innovative tools, like the Human Risk Management platform, are helping organisations stay ahead of increasingly sophisticated threats.

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
01:23 Understanding Human Risk in Cybersecurity
05:07 The Role of Culture in Cybersecurity
07:49 Evolving Threats and the Impact of AI
11:23 Omnichannel Attack Strategies
16:08 Visibility and User Behavior in Security
21:41 Challenges of Traditional DLP
23:02 Understanding Data Flows
24:40 User Education in Security
26:18 Real-Time Security Training
30:12 Mimecast's Approach to Security
33:34 Human Risk Management
39:08 Engaging with Mimecast
41:31 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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In this extended episode of CTO Insights, Paul Stringfellow is joined by long-time friend and industry expert Matt Watts, Chief Technology Evangelist at NetApp and author of The Fourth Wave. Together, they dive deep into the tech industry’s evolution, breaking down the concept of "waves"—monumental shifts that have shaped how businesses adopt and use technology. From the rise of cloud computing to the current AI revolution, Matt shares valuable insights into how IT leaders can prepare for the future by learning from the past.

Key topics include:

- Understanding the importance of AI and data democratization post-ChatGPT
- How to distinguish between tech "ripples" and true industry "waves"
- Lessons learned from the first three waves (cloud, virtualization, and modular IT)
- The role of intelligent data infrastructure in harnessing AI’s potential
- Practical advice for CTOs on standardization, infrastructure strategy, and identifying the next big trend

Whether you're an IT veteran or new to the leadership role, this conversation is packed with expert advice on how to navigate the fourth wave and beyond. Plus, Matt talks about his book, available now on Amazon! - https://amzn.eu/d/2qagF0d

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
01:08 Matt Watts: Background and Role at NetApp
03:41 The Fourth Wave: Concept and Development
06:48 Challenges in IT Leadership and Trends
11:13 Understanding the Third Wave: Cloud Adoption
18:16 Impact of the Pandemic on IT and Cloud
22:44 The Profound Impact of AI on Businesses
25:26 The Role of Storage in AI and Data Management
26:19 DevOps and Intelligent Data Infrastructure
31:40 Standardisation and Multi-Cloud Strategies
37:09 Advice for IT Leaders and Future Waves
40:23 Conclusion

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Welcome to this edition of CTO Insights, where we explore how cyber insurance is revolutionising cybersecurity decisions within organisations. In this episode, we sit down with Nick Dyer, Engineering Director at Arctic Wolf, who shares the innovative journey of Arctic Wolf's cloud-connected security operations. Nick discusses how a risk-focused approach, driven by limited resources and the rise of ransomware, has reshaped Arctic Wolf's strategies, enabling them to support mid-market businesses and the public sector in overcoming significant cybersecurity challenges.

We delve into the critical importance of visibility in today's IT landscape, as the transition from traditional antivirus tools to advanced EDR and XDR systems becomes essential. Nick highlights how cyber insurance mandates are bridging the gap between IT and business, ensuring that IT security measures align with business objectives to mitigate risks and ensure compliance. Visibility is key for CISOs, CIOs, and CTOs managing complex infrastructures and adopting cloud-native solutions.

Finally, we tackle the complexities of managing cybersecurity risk and the ongoing challenges faced by IT directors and CISOs. Nick offers insights into the continuous investment required in cybersecurity and how cyber insurance is playing a transformative role in promoting better security practices. We also explore various cybersecurity frameworks, the impact of public cloud adoption, zero trust networking, and the importance of data security and privacy amidst AI advancements. Tune in to discover why effective security strategies rely heavily on people and processes, not just technology.

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In this episode of CTO Insights, our host, Paul Stringfellow, as he sits down with Dr Kiri Addison, Senior manager of product management at Mimecast.

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In this episode of CTO Insights, our host, Paul Stringfellow, as he sits down with Kirk Ryan, Principal CSA at NetApp, to discuss adopting and building AI solutions and tech stacks.

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In this episode of CTO Insights, we delve deep into the future of technology with a special focus on the latest innovations in AI and cloud computing. Join our host, Paul Stringfellow, as he sits down with David Price, IT Director at Curtins, to discuss the cutting-edge developments that are shaping the tech landscape.

We'll explore:

• How AI is transforming industries and what to expect in the next few years.
• The evolution of cloud computing and its impact on business scalability and efficiency.
• Practical insights and strategies for integrating these technologies into your organization.
• Real-world case studies showcasing successful AI and cloud implementations.

Whether you're a tech enthusiast, an IT professional, or a business leader looking to stay ahead of the curve, this episode is packed with valuable insights and actionable advice. Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn from one of the leading minds in technology.

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In this episode of the CTO insights, Gardner CTO Paul is joined by Sophos' senior director of product management - Stephan McKay.

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Data Remains at the heart of all businesses, but how do we get the best from it and what does the future hold for our data management, storage and security? 

In this latest episode of CTO Insights, NetApp field CTO Grant Caley, with 20+ years at storage vendor NetApp, Grant has great experience and he shares a broad set of insights into the data industry. Join me as we explore the future of data ranging from cost optimisation to backup and recovery. 

Chapters:

00:00:00 - Intro to Grant Caley
00:02:58 - Wrangling Data for Better Integration
00:06:01 - Optimizing Data Storage in the Cloud
00:08:58 - The Challenge of Data Management and Cost Optimization
00:11:46 - Challenges with Data Optimization in AI
00:14:43 - Capacity and Cost Considerations in the Cloud
00:17:38 - The Advantages of Cloud Services
00:20:28 - Building Secure Storage Platforms for Ransomware Protection
00:23:21 - Importance of Backup and Recovery
00:26:09 - Accessing Everything

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In the debut episode of the CTO insights podcast, Gardner Systems CTO Paul Stringfellow talks with Sophos Senior Technologist Jon Hope. Paul and Jon discuss the Cybersecurity landscape, past, and present and the evolving threats we need to be considering and planning for.