Ben is a passionate and experienced Cyber Security Technology evangelist, with over 25 years’ in the IT, Security, and Engineering industries.
His career has taken him through academia, with a PhD. from Queen’s University Belfast in advanced networks; on to working in the defense industry with a focus on wireless sensor networks for security applications; and then into the secure Set-Top box industry, working for the global leaders Arris Global Ltd. and Pace PLC, running SoC & Security Teams to deliver the very best in secure media platforms.
He joined the SAAS / MSSP industry with Alert Logic, leading the Security Content efforts to build Threat Intelligence functions for their SOC, and Active Intelligence departments. He moved on to then establish Cygilant in Belfast, building and leading the region’s first MSSP 24/7 operation, including Global Security Operations Centre and Security Services, with a key focus on evolving and delivering a scalable Modern SOC Roadmap. After successful acquisition by SilverSky, he continued to lead a globally expanding team across multiple regions, continuing to build scalable, robust, and effective Security Operations capabilities, delivering demonstrable customer security value through MDR, EDR, XDR, SOAR, and Security Services; with a special focus on development and integration of next generation AI / ML tooling.
Ben is very passionate about supporting and growing the Cyber Security and other technical communities in Northern Ireland. He speaks regularly at local and regional events, and is a Director of the NI Cyber Cluster. He also supports local security events like BSides Belfast, and spends time in STEM outreach with local schools and colleges.
He most recently founded Loquerion Security, a start-up Security Tech company focused on novel and unique protections, using AI & Machine Learning Techniques, for the data belonging to individuals, organisations, and corporate entities.