Meet our Director & Principal Security Coach, Simon

Simon is an experienced cyber security and information assurance professional with over a decade of experience across both public and private sectors. Skilled in advising organisations on the adoption and alignment of various industry frameworks and standards such as Cyber Essentials, IASME’s Cyber Assurance and the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) as well as government specific standards such as NCSC CAF and the Defence Cyber Certification scheme (DCC) for UK MOD.

He demonstrates a comprehensive knowledge of the entire risk management lifecycle, including supplier management, asset management, system development lifecycle (SDLC), identity and access management (IdAM), vulnerability management, business continuity planning (BCP) and disaster recovery activities (DR).

When I founded White Hawk Solutions, my goal wasn’t just to help businesses pass audits, it was to build a safer digital economy from the ground up.

In today’s interconnected world, cyber security is no longer just an IT issue. It is the foundation of business trust, supply chain resilience and national security. I’ve seen first hand how overwhelming compliance can feel for growing teams, SMEs and defence contractors. The jargon can be dense and the stakes are incredibly high.

That is why I do what I do. I believe that robust, government-backed security standards like Cyber Essentials, Cyber Assurance, and Defence Cyber Certification should be accessible, clear and achievable for every organisation. My mission is to demystify the process, cutting through the complexity to give you total confidence.

Simon’s most notable deliverable has been supporting the adoption of NIST CSF across UK policing (56 separate policing organisations) through the design, development and delivery of a Power Platform toolset, Security Assessment for Policing (SyAP).

He has also held roles as an Information Assurance Manager and Technical Security Lead in public sector, as well as a Support Desk Manager, Business Analyst and System Administrator across private sector organisations.

Simon holds Principal in Cyber Security Management (PriCSP) status through the UK Cyber Security Council as well as an approved Assessor for Cyber Essentials, IASME’s Cyber Assurance and the new MOD DCC scheme. He also holds certifications in Governance, Risk and Compliance (CGRC) and CSA’s Certificate in Cloud Security Knowledge (CCSKv5) and Certificate in Zero Trust (CCZT) as well as general Certification in Cybersecurity (CC) and the BCS Certificate in Risk Management Principles (CISMP). This is on top of 6 Microsoft focused qualifications including Security, Compliance and Identity Fundamentals, Azure AI Fundamentals and Power Platform App Maker Associate level.

Away from the desk, Simon is a keen cyclist who enjoys the freedom that 2 wheels has to offer. This might be packing up the tent and going ‘bikepacking’ for a few days, or pushing the body and mind through extreme challenges such as ultra-distance cycling.