Hot Seat: Martin Taylor

What was your first job and how did you get into IT?
My interest in desktop publishing and graphic design led to a job on the technology support desk at the Farnham Institute of Art. As part of the IT team I worked my way up the supply chain and this gave me a great start in IT.

Which IT vendor do you think has been the most influential in the past 20 years?
There are two vendors that have really changed the IT landscape. One is IBM because it developed the PC and without it I would not be here. More recently, VMware because it has changed the server computing landscape.

And which IT professional?
Sir Tim Berners-Lee, the English computer scientist and MIT professor credited with inventing the world wide web in 1989.

Is there any piece of tech legislation that will have an effect on your business?
The Data Protection Act. As a storage expert working in network operations, the ability to access data, and ultimately comply with the act, at the touch of a button whether it is active or archived, is very important. The need to have always-available data has huge storage implications, so this act has had a big impression on our IT infrastructure.

Which mobile device do you currently use?
I use my laptop to access emails and I don’t have a BlackBerry, I use a Nokia phone. I am available 24/7 for emergencies but I don’t believe in letting it take over my life, so I rule my emails, not vice versa.

How often do you check it?
I check emails at the end of every day remotely using my laptop and my team knows how to get hold of me in an emergency via my mobile.

What technology would you save in a fire?
I was going to say my TV, but all technology is replaceable. I would always save my family first.