Mark leads the global Cyber Investigations and Forensics Response (CIFR) team at Accenture Security. In this role, he is combining an existing CIFR team with two organizations Accenture acquired in 2020: Symantec Cyber Security Services and Context Information Security. Mark is unifying the approaches and methodologies used for response and ensuring that the combined teams consistently maintain high standards. The global group conducts all manner of investigations including simple malware infections, complex ransomware attacks and full nation-state-level attacks on major corporations and government organizations.
Mark has more than 30 years of experience in the security industry. He helped found CREST, the not-for-profit accreditation and certification body representing the technical information security industry. He chaired the CREST management committee for its first seven years. He also helped the Bank of England create CBEST, a cybersecurity framework designed to help financial institutions identify areas of vulnerability that could be exploited by cyber-attacks.
Prior to Accenture, Mark served as CEO of Context Information Security, a company he co-founded in 1999. Context became one of the most recognizable and respected information security service providers in the UK and in global financial services. The company provides high-end cyber defense, intelligence-driven red team, vulnerability research and incident response services. It has been involved in some of the most advanced incident response cases in the industry. Previously, Mark served as head of security for the UK practice of PricewaterhouseCoopers.Mark cares deeply about helping clients understand the challenges of cybersecurity while keeping those challenges in context. He believes that as good as cyber security gets, attackers keep getting better, creating a constant game of cat and mouse. This is part of what makes his work life interesting. Mark enjoys watching rugby and gets out on his Harley when the weather is good. He has three adult children, one of whom also works at Accenture.