Exactly one year ago, Nasser Arif, Cybersecurity Manager at the NHS stood on stage to accept the prestigious NHS England Award at The National Cyber Awards. Recognising the unsung heroes protecting our digital world, the award marked a turning point.
We sat down with Nasser, to look back at that incredible night and see how much has changed over the last 12 months.
Q: Looking back to the awards night, what did winning that trophy mean to you?
The trophy is epic!
However, it holds an even deeper meaning to me than just looking super cool.
For me, the trophy is a symbol of acceptance.
Everyone knows that I love working in the cyber security industry and cannot even imagine working anywhere else.
The trophy is my daily reminder that I have found my industry. I have found my passion. I have found my ‘tribe’ so to speak.
There was a time around 7-8 years ago where if you told me I would be standing on stage winning a national award, I would have thought it was a cruel joke.
Before joining the NHS, I experienced a prolonged period of unemployment that left me feeling I had little to offer professionally. My confidence was at an all-time low (practically non-existent). It took significant self-motivation, resilience and personal growth to get to where I am today.
The award was a powerful reminder that all the hard work, late nights and effort never went unnoticed. It reassured me that I am on the right path.
It proves to me that if you continue to consistently put out positivity into the world (both personally and professionally), it will find its way back to you, no matter what.
This is the mindset I continue to live by. It has never let me down.
My cyber journey has been far from traditional. On the way however, I have come across so many lovely humans in our industry who have reminded me that I am never alone. There is always someone there to give me that boost I need to keep moving forward. In the same way, I will always be that source of support for others whenever they need it.
I am incredibly grateful for everything I have been through. Both the good times and bad have shaped me to be the person I am today.
Q: How did the industry react to your win? Did it change things for your team?
On the awards night itself, I was honestly blown away by the amount of love I received from those in attendance. I had so many people come up to me to congratulate me. I didn’t even know what to say in some cases, as my emotions got the better of me.
Even on my LinkedIn post, the number of positive comments I received meant so much to me. I did not realise so many people had been touched by this and were genuinely happy for me.
At my workplace, my NHS Trusts also celebrated this award. They published the photo of me and Mike Fell on stage all over their website and internal Trust comms. Again, this is something I never would have predicted when I first joined the NHS!
Whilst walking the Hospital floor, I still have NHS colleagues stop me and say:
‘You are that cyber man who won the award!’
This then gives me the opportunity to explain the award, its significance and raise the profile of cyber security within the NHS so our staff know that we are here to protect them and make sure they can continue to focus on patient care.
The perception of cyber security still needs improving, and awards like this play such a crucial role in helping achieve this.
Q: A lot can change in a year in cyber. What has been your biggest achievement since the awards?
Outside of my day job, I am a regular speaker at industry events, conferences and podcasts.
Following the award, I have the confidence now to really accept that I belong in this industry and still have a lot to share and give back to our community.
I was invited to take part in a super cool cyber simulation exercise this year, live at an international conference in Copenhagen, Denmark!
This was my first international speaking opportunity, and it was incredibly daunting at first. Initially my imposter syndrome was getting the better of me.
I am very comfortable speaking within the UK Cyber Security community, but the thought of speaking internationally frightened me. I had no idea what to expect or who would be in attendance.
However, I was looking at the lovely trophy on my desk one evening and it reminded me that there is absolutely nothing to fear. This is my industry, and I have a lot to share.
As someone who grew up quite shy, the idea of speaking on stage terrified me at one point. Now it is a true passion of mine.
So, I went for it.
I solo travelled to Denmark and thoroughly enjoyed speaking with the international audience and am looking to do it again soon!
Q: The National Cyber Awards put a big emphasis on diversity, inclusion, and green cyber initiatives. How have you championed those values this year?
I am continuing to raise more awareness where I can, about the many benefits a diverse workforce can bring. This is especially the case in cyber security. It is such a diverse field so it’s crucial that our workforce accurately represents this. Cyber security should be more accessible to all, regardless of gender or background.
I am a proud male ally within the Women in Cyber Security (WiCyS) network and have also been discussing the challenges with diversity on podcasts and live at industry conferences.
Within the NHS, I am aiming to further expand our Neurodiversity workspace so that NHS Cyber staff can gain more resources and knowledge about neurodiversity in cyber security.
Q: What advice would you give to the individuals and teams across the NHS who work in Cybersecurity?
My main piece of advice would be to ensure you are looking after your own mental and physical wellbeing so that you can better look after those around you.
I often use the analogy of an oxygen mask on an aircraft. We are told in those safety briefings to ensure that in an event of an emergency, we secure our own masks first before helping others. I feel the same applies to our profession.
If we do not maintain control over our own wellbeing, it can be quite difficult to fully protect those around us, be they loved ones or the organisation you work for.
One technique I use to get myself out of a ‘stressed’ mindset is to remind myself of the Who, What and Why.
Who am I protecting?
What am I protecting?
Why am I protecting this?
Answering these questions can help you re-gain that purpose which often becomes blurred during times of stress or uncertainty.
Looking Ahead
Cyber Security is a rapidly growing profession.
I plan to continue to step outside my comfort zone, break any invisible ceilings or barriers and inspire our next generation to simply go for it and realise their full potential.
There is something for everyone in our industry!
