Here at Custodia, we believe that our talented people are
one of the key factors that set us apart from other innovative
brands. We believe transformational ideas come from out-of-
the-box thinkers and creative pioneers, and we love any opportunity to highlight our amazing workforce.
Recently our Security and Compliance Manager, Sam Greaves, was kind enough to sit down with us for a chat about his experience in the landscape.
How Did Your Career in Security Begin?
Sam:
My career started in the IT landscape, and branched out into the world of IT security. The journey started when I decided to leave Sixth form college part-way through my first year, to pursue an exciting apprenticeship. Like most students, I was coaxed to embrace the standard path of college, University, and so on – but I didn’t feel that approach was really right for me.
When an apprenticeship opened up with a UK-based hosting provider, I jumped at the opportunity. My role was focused mainly around the SOC, delivering first-line support, and building out various security products and services. From there, I transitioned into an internal role, assisting with ISO and PCI DSS compliance, and managing the internal security controls for the organisation.
Early in my career, I was exposed to a lot of the key challenges companies face with compliance. I witnessed the 2017 WannaCry attack’s impact on the NHS, and saw first-hand just how badly it crippled the UK’s critical infrastructure. These experiences cemented my decision to pursue a career in Cyber Security.
What led you to Custodia?
Sam:
Working as part of a large organization with some amazingly talented and knowledgeable people gave me some great opportunities in my early career. I gained a lot of crucial skills, and some essential experience early on, and wanted to pursue further opportunities for growth.
There came a point where I decided I wanted the challenge of putting my skills in this industry to the test. This is when I came across Custodia. Though my focus was already on cyber security, I had only dabbled in the world of Regtech before. However, seeing what Custodia had achieved already, I was convinced this company held an amazing opportunity for me.
Custodia’s values mirror my own. The company and the people within it live and breathe compliance, working with clients with some of the most complex and stringent security requirements. I felt I could really pursue my true potential here.
Where are you Developing your Knowledge of Compliance?
Sam:
I’m investing significant time and effort to ensuring I can fully understand the needs of companies in the compliance field, with the full support of Custodia. The team is full of people ready to offer insights, advice, and guidance taken from years of experience in the field.
At present, I’m also involved in the ITHACA College New York cyber security board. Here, I meet with other security and compliance experts once a quarter to discuss current and emerging cybersecurity issues. Together, we’re working on a collaborative strategy to determine how the future of cyber security courses should be shaped for the next generation of students.
I’m also working with Custodia on various compliance initiatives, including the ISO 27001 certification. We’ve already passed stage 1 and expect to pass stage 2 by the end of this quarter. Additionally, we’re working on SOC 2 Type 1 compliance, followed immediately by SOC 2 Type 2.
Tell us a Little More About Yourself
Sam:
When I’m not nurturing my passion for cyber security and technology, I have a lot of hobbies. I’m a big fan of extreme sports like rock climbing and snowboarding. I also enjoy hiking, and I’m looking forward to doing the National Three Peaks challenge later this year.
The challenge involves climbing and navigating the three highest peaks of Scotland, Wales, and England, often within 24 hours. It adds up to a total walking distance of 23 miles (37km) and total ascent of 3064 metres (10,052ft), so it’s bound to be an exciting experience.