Hot Seat - Paul Skinner

Companies should breed a culture so that information security is second nature

What does your job entail?
Meeting all different types of technology clients ­ from global companies to startups. I discuss with them the areas that would keep them awake if they had an insurance claim. I have to understand technology in all of its guises and develop specialist insurance products for clients, so if an emergency happens they have someone to assist with their dilemma.

How often do you check your BlackBerry?
You should ask my wife. During the week it is set to come on at 8.00am and it goes off at 8.00pm. On holidays it is switched off and held in a secure area ­ my wife’s handbag. It takes me a few days to get over the urge to have a sneaky look just to see what is happening in the world.

Which person do you most admire in the IT industry?
I would say Tim Berners-Lee, as without his work the net would not be what it is today. But while everyone looks at the top leaders it is my clients who I admire. They have put their assets and family on the line to set up a business and see it through. That is a real achievement and one they should be very proud of.

Which recent IT news item do you think will have the biggest impact?
For me, it is information security. Strict controls are always established on paper but they don’t seem to be audited to ensure they are in place on the shop floor. Companies should breed a culture so that information security is second nature.

What keeps you awake at night?
Knowing that one of my clients has a problem whether it is a fire at their premises or a contract failure. My company sees this everyday and knows instinctively what to do, but for our clients it may be their first experience. While they might not panic, their businesses are most definitely going to be affected if the situation is not dealt with efficiently. How would you sleep in this scenario?