A Leader with Diverse Expertise in Innovative Business Solutions!
In a globalized world of bytes and passwords, safety in cyberspace is of utmost importance. Catering to this, harmonizing strong cybersecurity measures with practical business requirements secures organizations effectively.
To ensure long-term success, organizations need exceptional and brilliant cybersecurity experts to balance these aspects by developing information security management systems and providing internationally recognized business solutions.
Ledum Maeba, CISO of Dumwand Group Limited stands out in this world of information security with his adept leadership and exceptional approach. He catches the eye of the industry by approaching cybersecurity consulting as a professional and businessman who focuses on providing appropriate solutions to every client’s problem.
A man of ample experience, Ledum has worn many hats, including Lead Auditor, Lead Implementer, Internal Auditor, Business Process Architect, Auditor & Implementer, and Biochemist. He has worked for various organizations where he developed management systems. His experience as the head of information security prepared him for founding the Dumwand Group.
Ledum’s leadership style is influenced by his previous employment, where he learned the importance of aligning business solutions with the business’s vision, mission, and objectives. He continues to apply this principle in his cybersecurity consultancy, ensuring that the solutions he provides meet and exceed client’s needs and expectations.
Below are the interview highlights:
Can you please introduce yourself and your motivation to embark on this sector?
My name is Ledum Maeba. I am a trained Biochemist (from Lagos State University, Lagos, Nigeria), Lead Auditor, Lead Implementer, Internal Auditor, Business Process Architect, Auditor & Implementer in Management Systems based on the requirements of the ISO International Standards. I am also a Chartered Quality Professional. Presently a Masters degree Student in Computer Science in North Wales Management School, Wrexham University, Wales.
As a fresh University Graduate, I worked for a motors company known as SCOA Motors in Lagos, Nigeria as a Leasing Computer Supervisor briefly before getting a job with DHL (International Global Courier Company based in more than 200 countries globally) as Quality Admin. Assistant. At DHL, I was introduced to Management Systems, such as:
- Quality Management System (QMS)
- Information Security Management System (ISMS)
- Business Continuity Management System (BCMS)
- Risk Management System (RMS)
Over the years, Management Systems has played a significant role in the majority of the roles that I have been engaged in. The beauty of applying or incorporating management systems requirements into a business environment and its numerous benefits have inspired me to venture into rendering consultancy services to businesses in all business sectors globally.
Could you please give a brief introduction to your company and its inception story?
Dumwand Group Limited, UK, is a consultancy company that provides consultancy services in Tailored Information Security, Quality Assurance, Business Continuity Management and Business Solutions Business Packages.
The company was formed on 7th May 2015 but has been inactive until November 2023, when I left permanent employment. At Dumwand Group Limited, we provide the following services to our esteemed clients:
- Virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO)
- Business Assurance
- Securing our Business
- Professional Training
- Specialised Audits
- Consultancy Business Presentations
- Promo Business Packages
- Aduks Business Packages
Our aim is to ensure customer satisfaction, business retention, and even bigger opportunities.
How did your experience as the head of information security prepare you for founding Dumwand Group, and how does it influence your approach to cybersecurity consultancy?
My working and professional experience from my days as a young university graduate to date has shaped and prepared me for this moment.
I approach cybersecurity consulting as a professional and businessman. My aim is always to ensure that I provide the appropriate solutions to every client’s problem(s).
Can you share a specific example of a successful information security strategy implementation you led at Avanti Communications that significantly improved the company’s security posture?
As stated in my CV, I successfully lead organizations and businesses to ISO certifications, recertifications, surveillance audits, and management of the various management systems globally. This leads to numerous benefits for the businesses, which makes them compete favorably over their competitors in getting businesses and contracts.
How do you ensure that Dumwand Group stays abreast of the latest developments in cybersecurity standards and regulations, given your background in ISO 27001, GDPR, and NIST standards?
I am a member of professional organizations such as the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA), the US and Chartered Quality Institute (CQI), London, etc., and I attend professional meetings and conferences. I am also a speaker, moderator, etc. at such events as InfoSecurity Europe, CISO Crowd, etc. I subscribe to intellectual and business materials as well.
In what ways do you leverage your expertise as a lead auditor and implementer of ISO 27001 to guide clients in developing robust information security management systems?
I ensure that I use internationally recognized and up-to-date frameworks to provide business solutions to my clients. I also ensure that I put in place an effective control and monitoring system so that businesses can remain compliant and benefit from the system that has been implemented.
How do you approach balancing the need for strong cybersecurity measures with the practical business requirements of your clients, drawing from your experience working with senior management?
I aim to ensure customer satisfaction and use frameworks and technologies that will provide the appropriate solutions at a reasonable cost for my clients. I relate the benefits of the systems that I have implemented to the bottom-line profits of the organizations and businesses.
Can you discuss a challenging incident response scenario you managed and how that experience shapes your incident response strategies?
Ineffective and obsolete business processes always create problems for businesses, leading to financial loss, etc. Implementation of actual business processes ensures that businesses meet and exceed business and technology requirements. I believe in practical business and technology solutions for all my esteemed clients.
How do you tailor your cybersecurity advice and training to effectively communicate with diverse stakeholders, including customers, suppliers, and senior management, based on your past interactions in similar roles?
At Dumwand Group Limited, our business solutions are packaged and tailored to meet and exceed customers’ needs and expectations while ensuring customer satisfaction. Security, Business & Technology initiatives are taken into consideration in meeting customers’ requirements.
What methodologies or frameworks do you prioritize when conducting IT audits and assessments for software and business applications, and how do they align with industry best practices?
We use industry best practices frameworks that will provide the needed solutions for the client while taking into consideration all business and technology requirements. The size of the business is also taken into consideration.
How do you ensure that the security monitoring practices at Dumwand Group are proactive and effective in detecting and mitigating potential threats, drawing from your oversight of similar activities?
As explained earlier, we are affiliated with professional bodies in the business and technology sectors. Risk management techniques are in operation in the business, and this helps in identifying and mitigating potential threats to the business.
Can you share a key lesson you learned from your time at Avanti Communications that continues to influence your leadership style and decision-making processes, particularly in the realm of cybersecurity consulting?
Since the time that I started working as a professional and business-oriented person, I have always ensured that the business solutions provided align with the business’s vision, mission, and set objectives.
