Barrier Networks, a specialist in managed security services for enterprises and critical national infrastructure, today announced the appointment of Peter Villiers as its new Director of Cyber Risk.
Villiers’ appointment coincides with one of Barrier’s most successful years yet, with its headcount and turnover surging and it taking on a host of market-leading partners to deliver more advanced cyber security services to its customers.
In his new role, Villiers will lead and grow Barrier’s Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) business, bringing a rare mix of technical authority, strategic leadership and a passion for advancing cyber resilience.
Villiers brings deep expertise across cyber strategy, risk management and cyber operations that has been developed over a career spanning both the public and private sectors, including roles in defence, national infrastructure and FTSE100 organisations.
He has held senior leadership positions in government and industry, most recently serving as a CISO for one of the Ministry of Defence’s largest IT programmes, helping to secure digital capabilities at national scale. Peter is also a dedicated Cyber Reservist, leading teams that deliver cyber mission assurance, incident response and penetration testing on deployed defence systems globally.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Peter to Barrier. Having worked closely with him in the past, I’ve seen first-hand the expertise, commitment and tenacity he brings to cyber leadership,” said Ian McGowan, managing director of Barrier Networks. “His background across defence, critical infrastructure and operational technology makes him a perfect fit for our team, and our customers will significantly benefit from his expertise in securing complex, high-risk environments.”
Over the last twelve months, Barrier has experienced significant growth with its revenue increasing by over 20% YoY for the second consecutive year, its team has doubled over the past five years to nearly 40 employees, while its Security Operation Centre has also doubled in capacity to accommodate its expanding customer base. This year will also see Barrier launch its first piece of proprietary software, which will be released later this year and is designed to help organisations manage and lower their cyber risk.
With a growing team of cyber specialists, world-leading technology partners, and the upcoming launch of its own security platform, Barrier is well positioned to support customers more effectively. At a time when regulations are tightening and cyber threats are amplifying, Barrier helps ease the burden on internal resources.
“I’m delighted to join Barrier Networks at such a pivotal time in its growth. Having worked with the team before, I know the strength of their technical delivery and their commitment to clients. With growing threats to critical national infrastructure and cyber risk generally, I’m excited to help expand our GRC capabilities and support organisations in building secure, resilient systems from the ground up,” said Peter Villiers, Director of cyber risk at Barrier Networks.
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