SANS Institute appoints NCSC Founder Ciaran Martin to lead CISO Network

The SANS Institute announces the appointment of the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre’s (NCSC) founder and former head Ciaran Martin, CB, as Director of SANS CISO Network and Summits EMEA.

Respected as a pioneer among public authorities for cybersecurity, Martin is able to offer SANS and its global community a unique perspective on successfully managing global cyber threats at a national level.

Facilitating further preparedness

As Director of the SANS CISO Network and Summits in EMEA, Martin will look to facilitate further preparedness and resilience among a community facing a rapid increase in cyberattacks. With Martin at their helm, the SANS CISO Network and Summits will continue to ease the pressure of working as a security decision-maker amid today’s tough threat landscape, providing an environment in which ideas and lessons-learned can be shared amongst a peer group of influencers and thought leaders.

Martin’s belief in the collaboration of government and industry to enhance cybersecurity makes him as an ideal lead for today’s Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs). A 23-year veteran of the UK Government, Martin has held senior positions at HM Treasury and the Cabinet Office, as well as six and a half years on the board of the NCSC, which he founded. 

Significant cyber-attacks

One of Martin’s first outings in his new SANS role will be to attend the CyberThreat conference

Under Martin’s leadership, the NCSC managed more than 2000 nationally significant cyber-attacks against the UK, including the so-called Wannacry attack against the NHS in 2017. Martin also led the detection work that prompted the Government to call out, for the first time, cyber aggression from Russia, China, Iran and North Korea.

One of Martin’s first outings in his new SANS role will be to attend the CyberThreat conference, taking place in January 2023. The conference – a joint event between the NCSC and SANS - seeks to support and advance the UK Government’s commitment to equip practitioners with the skills and knowledge required to defend against cyber threats.

Extensive threat landscape

Ciaran Martin said: “SANS Institute is a force for good in global cyber security. Its principles are strongly aligned with my own; to help people cut through the fear and hype of today’s extensive threat landscape by relying on high quality expertise. I want to work with SANS to develop a safe, expert space for today’s CISOs to learn from the best, and collaborate with each other, as they face the frontline of cybersecurity in the years ahead.”

“By training those in the cybersecurity industry to the highest standard, we are hugely increasing the capabilities of the country and our allies to respond to cyber threats. It has always been a privilege to play a part in that; my work now continues at SANS, an organisation I admire and trust.” CyberThreat 2022, hosted by SANS and the NCSC, takes place on 16-17 January 2023.