Tariq is a Chief Information Security Officer and certified GDPR Practitioner dedicated to protecting corporate data assets. With an MSc in Information Security from Royal Holloway and CISSP/CISM accreditations, he advises boards on risk management. He has 18 years of experience fortifying networks against cyber threats in the fintech and public sectors.
Tariq Ahmed is a seasoned cybersecurity executive who combines deep technical knowledge with a thorough understanding of UK and EU data privacy laws. A graduate of Royal Holloway's renowned Information Security Group, Tariq has served as CISO for mid-sized financial institutions and healthcare providers, sectors where data integrity is paramount. He specializes in helping organizations achieve and maintain Cyber Essentials Plus and ISO 27001 certifications, often stepping in to remediate security postures after failed audits. Tariq’s writing focuses on the intersection of technology and liability, explaining why unapproved SaaS tools are a GDPR minefield and how to implement Zero Trust architectures without stalling business operations. He provides critical guidance on incident response, teaching companies how to coordinate IT, Legal, and PR teams within the first 72 hours of a data breach. His insights are vital for UK SMEs facing the dual pressure of sophisticated ransomware attacks and strict regulatory enforcement by the ICO.