Fortinet Cybersecurity Podcast · Fortinet Cybersecurity Podcast

Brass Tacks S2E04 – Why Cybersecurity Is a Societal Issue

March 13, 2026·21 min

Professor Richard Benham, UK cybersecurity pioneer, discusses his career trajectory from 1980s banking through internet banking innovation to cross-border policing roles, revealing how technology outpaced organizational understanding. He explains creating the world's first MBA in cybersecurity (2010) to bridge business-IT knowledge gaps, securing Prime Minister David Cameron's support and House of Commons launch. The program became the de facto starting point for CISOs globally. Benham then discusses his Cyber Trust charity and UK National Cyber Awards, addressing cybersecurity's impact on vulnerable populations (elderly, youth) beyond corporate risk management.

As heard by us

Cybersecurity here is about institutions, access, and who gets into the room.

Brass Tacks treats cybersecurity as a public issue, and that choice gives the episode a clear shape. Joe Robertson keeps the discussion grounded, while Professor Richard Benham makes the case that awareness, access, and institutional cooperation matter just as much as the usual…

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Why you'd press play

Press play for a cyber conversation that treats awareness, institutions, and collaboration as part of security.

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