At a Glance
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Roger Smith, CEO, R&I ICT Consulting Services
Thought Leader Interview
Thinkers360 Interviews profile prominent members of the Thinkers360 community who embody the power of ideas in their work. In this edition, we speak with Roger Smith, CEO, R and I ICT Consulting Services.
Thinkers360: Tell us a bit about your background
RS: I have been working in the ICT industry for more than 30 years. Working in the Royal Australian Navy I started on Unix systems and progressed through Linux to Microsoft. Originally my main focus was on managed service environments, that was until I was hacked in 2008.
The hacking and the loss of a significant amount of money created a total change in attitude. “I knew computers and I was hacked, what chance do normal people have when it comes to the digital world?” I started to learn about the tactics and strategies the hackers use as well as a deeper understanding of the digital / cyber world.
In 2011, I wrote my first book, a well-received book titled “The Basics of Business Security” mainly because no one else was focusing on the basics for small and medium business and not-for-profit organisations. My second book “Cybercrime – A Clear and Present Danger” was written in 2014 and was based on a similar premise to the NIST Cybersecurity Framework when they were both in the creation process. Although it sold well the drivers behind NIST showed better promise and I adapted the NIST process to my business model.
I am working on a series of books for organisations to “future proof” their data, systems and security. The first one should be released by the end of the year.
Thinkers360: What are your current responsibilities and what’s a typical day look like?
RS: At present, I am the CEO of R and I ICT Consulting Services, the Director of client security for Care MIT and the industry fellow at Australian Defence Force Academy, the Canberra campus of the University of New South Wales where I teach Cybersecurity to the undergrads.
This keeps me busy, especially during semesters at ADFA. Other time I am developing and implementing systems that secure our clients, analysing data and creating reports. Most of these processes have now been automated which allows me to increase my own profile along with the organization.
Thinkers360: What’s the favorite part of your current role?
RS: Everything. I am lucky that having such a diverse role in both the businesses and the university there is no time to be bored. I am focused on not only the clients, but easier and better ways to combat cybercrime.
Thinkers360: How do you utilize Thinkers360?
RS: I use Thinkers360 as a platform for ideas, content and information. I write for both my blogs (3) as well as my tribe on LinkedIn. I leverage social media with content on Thinkers360 and push it out to the followers on all platforms.
Thinkers360: How do you like to work with brands who wish to engage you as a thought leader?
RS: I love working with brands that treat you as their thought leader. It makes working with them easier and more fulfilling.
In everything that I do, integrity and capability are the driving force of what I do and can achieve in protecting an organisation from cybercrime.
My business interests and teaching are vendor agnostic, we deliver best of breed solutions to organisations without kowtowing to systems and components. Every organisation is unique, this makes our tailored solutions work for the organisations not for anyone else.
Thinkers360: What’s your main advice for upcoming thought leaders?
RS: Get out there! You have the knowledge! All you have to do is package it through publications, ideas, blogs, videos, webinars and anything else you can think of that moves you from the cattle – the consumers, to creators.
The more developed your ideas the bigger the following, but practicing when you are not a thought leader allows you to develop the skills and capabilities you need to get a tribe of followers as well as creating a work ethic, a body of work and a responsibility to the platform.
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