"Cyber security is getting bigger and bigger". Leon joined us as a grad and we had a chat with him to understand what made him choose BT and cyber security as a career.
1. What did you want to be when you’re 5 years old?
When I was 5 years old I wanted to play football and emulate the Manchester United players I used to watch on TV.
2. What and where did you study?
I studied International Business Management at the University of Surrey.
3. Why did you apply for a graduate scheme in cyber security and BT?
I applied for the sales graduate scheme as it was something I have built experience within. In addition, I thought I could thrive within a sales-oriented environment. After I had made this decision, I wanted to join a global company that would provide me with a foundation based on good learning and development. I chose BT because I felt they could provide this for me.
4. On a daily basis, what are your responsibilities?
Proactive insights and landscaping of global accounts, support and manage renewals, presentations of different security solutions where applicable, Salesforce management of opportunities, support on Deal Review Planning, pipeline tracker of opportunities and accounts, vendor engagement, supporting on commercial and contractual solutions etc.
5. Can you share a project that you enjoyed working on?
Renewals project: As part of my graduate program, I’m currently involved in the ‘Renewals Project’ regarding renewal opportunities within BT Security.
The aim of this project is to get reliable data for renewals so we can update the 'Renewals' summary tracker spreadsheet on SharePoint. This then provides us with opportunities which we can work on, or track, to either retain or increase revenue. BT wants to see results in this program because if it is successful it will enable the business to gain foresights into retaining and increasing revenue.
6. Why is cyber security so important for BT and in today’s society?
Cyber security is important in today’s society. Most companies are under immense pressure to digitally transform. Some of the key areas shaping industries are moving workloads to the cloud, creating more cost-effective infrastructure, and meeting the needs of stakeholders. These are seen as key considerations for organisations. All of these elements are also important to BT. This is because companies must weigh this against the need for security. BT can then provide a level of protection and resiliency that corresponds with the needs of organisations especially around digital transformation. The biggest driver for digital transformation is meeting the needs of the business.
7. As a graduate in cyber security, what career path can you take?
For me personally it is around being:
- a sales specialist/principal sales specialist/manager
- an account specialist/manager
- a network specialist/manager
8. Is this the perfect time to start a career in cyber security?
Yes it is. This is because traditional security controls focused on securing the perimeter are now not enough. Network infrastructures now include SD-WAN, hybrid networks etc, which means the applications that organisations are using are now being split across different areas of a business. Therefore, organisations no longer have so much control over how and when people connect to their network. Coupled also with the ever-increasing threat landscape, starting a career in cyber security will provide myself and others a great opportunity to capitalise within the issues and trends within our respected markets. Cyber security is only going to become bigger and bigger and being involved in securing the issues customers face will only be beneficial for myself and BT.
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