British National Cyber Security Chief Steps Down

Uploaded on 2020-01-10 in INTELLIGENCE--International, GOVERNMENT-Defence, FREE TO VIEW

Ciaran Martin will leave the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) in the summer, almost four years after founding the organisation and will leave in the Summer of 2020. In a statement he said his decision to step down had been in place a long time. "It has been the privilege of a lifetime to set up the NCSC and lead its brilliant people," Mr Martin, a career civil servant, said in a statement.

The head of Britain's frontline defence against cyberattacks has warned that the challenge of securing technology will become ever more complex. 

"When we created the NCSC we set out to achieve something truly special, and I hope and believe we are leaving UK cyber security in much better shape.... Challenges around securing technology are only going to get ever more complex so it's right that after six and a half years that someone else takes this world-class organisation to the next level."

The cyber security chief, who was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the Queen's New Year Honours list, will become a visiting professor at King's College London. Mr Martin rose through the ranks of the civil service, including stints at the Treasury and the Cabinet Office, before joining the board of GCHQ as the head of cyber security in December 2013.

Two years later, he recommended the creation of the public-facing cyber security centre, which - in contrast to the secret confines of the rest of GCHQ - interacts closely with private industry and members of the public to help improve cyber resilience.

The NCSC formally opened in October 2016. Lord Gus O'Donnell, former cabinet secretary, responding to the news of Mr Ciaran's decision to step down, said he had been an "outstanding civil servant for nearly a quarter of a century... Over the past six years he has set up and led something that's regarded as a huge national asset for the UK all over the world." 

The UK government is now looking for a new NCSC head who can contact, comprehend and discuss with organisations the security threats posed by terrorists, hackers and state sponsored cyberattacks and disruption of online and hacks for financial gain.  

The intelligence and security agency GCHQ, which includes the cyber security centre, will appoint a new chief executive to replace Mr Martin. It will consider candidates from the private sector as well as from within government.

Sky News:        FT.Com:        @NMSOnline:         Image: copyright  GCHQ

You Might Also Read:

NCSC Stopped One Million Criminal Frauds:

Britain's National Cyber Security Strategy Beyond 2021:

 

« Iranian Hackers Attack The US, Not Very Badly
Austria's Foreign Ministry Hit By A Big Attack »

Infosecurity Europe
CyberSecurity Jobsite
Perimeter 81
Cyrin

Real Attacks. Real Tools. Real Scenarios.
Schedule a demo

Sign Up: Cyber Security Intelligence Newsletter

Directory of Suppliers

Clayden Law

Clayden Law

Clayden Law advise global businesses that buy and sell technology products and services. We are experts in information technology, data privacy and cybersecurity law.

ManageEngine

ManageEngine

As the IT management division of Zoho Corporation, ManageEngine prioritizes flexible solutions that work for all businesses, regardless of size or budget.

IT Governance

IT Governance

IT Governance is a leading global provider of information security solutions. Download our free guide and find out how ISO 27001 can help protect your organisation's information.

Infosecurity Europe, 3-5 June 2025, ExCel London

Infosecurity Europe, 3-5 June 2025, ExCel London

This year, Infosecurity Europe marks 30 years of bringing the global cybersecurity community together to further our joint mission of Building a Safer Cyber World.

ZenGRC

ZenGRC

ZenGRC (formerly Reciprocity) is a leader in the GRC SaaS landscape, offering robust and intuitive products designed to make compliance straightforward and efficient.

Janusnet

Janusnet

Janusnet develops software and solutions for organisations to enforce and manage data security.

Mobile Mentor

Mobile Mentor

Mobile Mentor is an independent provider of enterprise mobility solutions in New Zealand and Australia.

My Data Recovery Lab

My Data Recovery Lab

We recover data from: HDDs, RAIDs, NAS, SSDs, USB Flash Devices, Desktop Computers, Mobile devices and other data storage media.

Telspace Africa

Telspace Africa

Telspace Africa provide the highest level of IT security solutions including advisory, penetration testing, vulnerability assessments, red teaming, social engineering and training.

ANIS

ANIS

ANIS represents the interests of Romanian IT companies and supports the development of the software and services industry.

AllegisCyber Capital

AllegisCyber Capital

AllegisCyber is an investment company with a focus on seed and early stage investing in cybersecurity and its applications in emerging technology markets.

DOS

DOS

DOS is an Ecuadorian company with 3 decades of presence in the market and extensive experience in the planning, management and execution of IT Service Integration Projects.

CYRail

CYRail

CYRail project will analyse threats targeting Railway infrastructures and develop innovative attack detection and alerting techniques.

Griffiss Institute (GI)

Griffiss Institute (GI)

GI's primary role is to advocate and facilitate the co-operation of private industry, academia, and the Air Force Research Laboratory in developing solutions to critical cyber security problems.

DataNumen

DataNumen

The fundamental mission of DataNumen is to recover as much data from inadvertent data disasters as possible.

JupiterOne

JupiterOne

JupiterOne is the security product that is changing how organizations manage and secure their software defined assets.

Route1

Route1

Route1 is an advanced provider of secure data intelligence solutions to drive your business forward.

Vercara

Vercara

Vercara offers a purpose-built, global cloud security platform that provides layers of protection to safeguard businesses’ online presence, no matter where an attack comes from or where it is aimed.

Jericho Security

Jericho Security

Jericho Security is on a mission to defend the world from the new threats of generative AI cyber attacks.

Secur-Serv

Secur-Serv

Secur-Serv is a security-first managed services provider. We provides Managed IT, Managed Print, Managed Device, and Cybersecurity services to companies of every size.

Cyber Security Certification Australia (CSCAU)

Cyber Security Certification Australia (CSCAU)

CSCAU is the world’s first 'for mission' industry council set up to address small and medium-sized business (SMB) cyber resilience through annually updated certifiable standards.