Technology Reseller v11

technolog y reseller.co.uk 43 60 Seconds... 60 seconds... with Nicholas Shaw, Vice President and General Manager EMEA, Norton by Symantec What’s currently having the greatest impact on your business? Cybersecurity has gone mainstream. It’s gone from the corporate boardroom to the living room, affecting us all – and consumers are taking notice. Every day, we see new headlines about massive data breaches; hackers who have successfully stolen consumers’ personal or financial information; and heartbreaking stories from everyday people who have fallen victim to online scams and ransomware. In the UK alone, more than 17 million consumers experienced cybercrime last year, representing more than one third of the adult online population. As consumers are increasingly affected by cybercrime, they are also more aware of today’s threats and are starting to take a more active and invested role in protecting their information, their devices and their identity. Where do you see the next big opportunity? Privacy is going to be a defining issue for this generation. The wheels are already in motion, and recent headlines suggest consumers are more actively scrutinising the type of information they share online and with third parties. While there are benefits for consumers in sharing information with services, such as enabling businesses to tailor their offerings to customers’ specific interests and needs, there are also serious and uncontrolled risks to their identity and privacy. We want to empower consumers to understand this changing landscape and to be their ally so they can control their information and how it is used by third parties. What would make your day job easier? Teleportation. I think a lot of us would love a 21st century Scotty who could beam us up to different locations in seconds, if only to cut down the commute time. What’s the best bit of business advice you’ve been given? Treat company money like your own money. I am meticulous about how we spend our budget. When I need to travel, you’re likely to find me, and my team, on a budget airline and taking public transport between the airport and city centre. If you had had a crystal ball, would you have done anything differently? I would have seized some emerging opportunities, such as buying BitCoin or Amazon or Apple stock before the boom. Describe your most embarrassing moment. There are too many to mention…! What was your first job? In a sink factory when I was at university.  My job was to oil the metal sinks before they went into the press. What would be your dream job? An F1 or Rally driver. Money’s not an issue, what’s your perfect car and where would you drive it? An Aston Martin DB11, and I would drive it through the Italian Riviera. Fine dining and good wine, or curry and a pint? I love both! I love a nice dinner and fine wine with my wife as much as I enjoy a night out with friends and family over curry and a pint. Favourite holiday destination? I love traveling anywhere in Australia. From the metropolitan centres, such as Sydney and Melbourne, to the Great Barrier Reef or the Outback, there are so many incredible sights to see, things to do and areas to discover down under. I have spent many happy holidays in OZ!. How do you like to spend your spare time? I travel extensively across my region and frequently also to the US, so spending time with my wife and children is very important to me. When the weather allows, we head out to the beach as a family and indulge in various water sports.