Mike Upton joins e2e-assure as Head of Public Sector

Managed Threat Detection and Response provider, e2e-assure, has appointed Mike Upton as Head of Public Sector.

Mike Upton will lead e2e-assure's strategic initiatives aimed at providing advanced solutions to counteract threats and enhance cyber readiness specifically for the UK Public Sector.

Mike Upton, who brings over 20 years of experience working in the Public Sector, including roles at NCC Group and Capita, is expected to significantly boost the commercial capabilities of e2e-assure's Public Sector division. His experience is expected to aid the company's mission during a period when sectors such as Local and Central Government, Healthcare, Education, and Emergency Services are becoming increasingly susceptible to cyber attacks.

Tim Anderson, Chief Commercial Officer of e2e-assure, expressed his confidence in Upton's appointment. "I am incredibly happy to welcome Mike to the e2e-assure team. I have no doubt that he will bring a great deal of value to his new role here. His key experience of working across the Public Sector will be invaluable as we continue to help and support more of our customers in this space, guiding them to defend against critical attacks that have potential to harm national infrastructure," said Anderson.

The increase in cyber threats is notably concerning for the Public Sector due to the crucial infrastructure involved and the volume of sensitive data held. According to e2e-assure's report titled "Outsourcing Cyber Security in 2024," 77% of Healthcare organisations have experienced a cyber attack, and 50% of cybersecurity providers are not taking proactive measures, such as Threat Hunting.

Mike Upton elaborated on his extensive background, stating, "For the past twenty years, I've gained extensive experience working with the Public Sector. From sitting on government cyber committees, contributing to national strategies, building relationships with devolved governments, optimising bid or tender processes, running major testing and consulting contracts with central government and NHS bodies, my work has been far-reaching."

He further added, "I've been fascinated by the Public Sector's ongoing evolution of approach to managing risk and strongly believe Public Sector organisations have an obligation to lead the way in their approach to protecting national infrastructure, our society, and our data. I believe e2e-assure can and should be integral to that obligation."

Tim Anderson also noted the ongoing financial and operational challenges faced by the Public Sector. "Balancing budgets and onboarding cybersecurity capability, while increasing operational efficiency, is a constant battle for Public Sector teams throughout the UK. Onboarding the right partner, that can offer flexible and proactive monitoring solutions, will be key to defending against cyber attacks that are a major threat to the wider Public Sector including our health and care system, emergency services, education and government departments," explained Anderson.

In addition to this organisational change, e2e-assure is set to participate in the International Cyber Expo next week, where they will unveil research indicating that current investments in cyber resilience may be at risk due to gaps in end-user knowledge, particularly concerning AI policies. This report aims to offer actionable insights for Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) to mitigate these risks effectively.

Mike Upton's appointment comes at a pivotal time as the Public Sector confronts increasing cyber threats. His extensive experience is anticipated to be valuable in strengthening the sector's defences against sophisticated attacks.