Hi, I'm Mark

I'm a cybersecurity specialist, IT network engineer, and web-services professional helping companies of all sizes.

Let's Connect

About Me

IT Consultant, specializing in cybersecurity and Network support services. 30 years of experience.

I started out my career implementing site-to-site VPN solutions for companies spread throughout the UK and EMEA Region. Creating some of the first secure branch office to head office data solutions available using Cisco technologies. I also created an extensive VPN solution for consultant staff working remotely at client sites, this was at least a decade before the COVID-19 pandemic made remote working a normality.

Since then, I have expanded my range of skills to encompass the vast way that modern companies do business utilizing the internet to connect employees to offices and cloud data solutions.

I'm currently undertaking advanced cybersecurity training in the latest emerging threat trends, including the use of multi-factor authentication systems, to better protect client networks and data from security incidents.

Personal Info

  • Qualifications: Professional Certificate in Management, Certificate - Web Applications Development, Cisco Certified Support Technician - CCST
  • Years Experience: 1995 - Present (30 Years)
  • Locations Covered: United Kingdom, European Union & Australia
  • E-mail:mark@solway.au
  • Phone: +44 7458 149 306

Services

Web Services

Full Domain management, hosting, and email management. Website redesign.

Cyber Consulting

Compliance with local laws, security posture evaluation, and reporting.

Email Spam Reduction

Implementation of spam defense systems to reduce spam and phishing attempts.

VCISO Services

Virtual Chief Information Security Officer services on a daily rate basis.

Testimonials

"Mark transformed my old website into a modern, mobile-friendly site. My Google performance has sky-rocketed since his help! I'm forever grateful for his work."

Fernando Leon

The Covent Garden Salon

"Now I have a salon contact email system that actually works and clients can now buy our products and vouchers with greater ease."

Maxine P

SE1 Hair & Beauty

"We needed urgent help reducing the amount of spam emails entering our company email systems. Mark put in a robust solution and reduced our spam emails by over 90% in just under a month."

Lesley V

Excalibur Solutions

Resume

Skill Sets

Cybersecurity

Extensive experience in threat analysis, vulnerability assessment, penetration testing, incident response, security architecture design, and implementation of security best practices. Proficient with a wide range of security tools and technologies (SIEM, IDS/IPS, firewalls, endpoint protection, etc.). Expertise in compliance frameworks like NIST Cybersecurity Framework, ISO 27001, GDPR, and PCI DSS.

Website Design/Management

Proven ability to design, develop, and maintain responsive, user-friendly, and accessible websites. Proficient in HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript (and frameworks like React, & Bootstrap). Experience with content management systems (CMS) like WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla. Strong understanding of SEO principles and website performance optimization.

Domain Management

Comprehensive experience in domain registration, DNS management (A records, CNAME, MX, TXT, etc.), domain transfers, WHOIS privacy, and DNSSEC. Familiar with various domain registrars and DNS providers. Experience troubleshooting DNS-related issues.

NIST/ISO 27001 Compliance

In-depth knowledge of NIST Cybersecurity Framework and ISO 27001 standards. Experience in conducting gap analyses, developing and implementing security policies and procedures, risk assessments, and preparing for audits. Able to guide organizations through the certification process.

Additional Skills

  • IT Management
  • Project Management
  • Technical Writing and Documentation
  • Network Engineering (Cisco Especially)
  • Scripting (Python, Bash)
  • Operating Systems Expertise (Linux, Windows Desktop, Windows Server, MacOS)

Experience

2023 - Present Ellipse Private Client Consulting

Web Design & IT Services Management

Assisting SMEs to communicate effectively with their clients through all digital touch-points. Improve website page speeds and accessibility metrics. Implementation of secure access, authentication and auditing systems to ensure compliance with data protection laws. Assisted various clients with GDPR compliance steps. Provided assistance with PCI-DSS audits for card payment business functions.

2005 - 2023 Ellipse All About Skin

Chief Information Officer / Director of Operations

Provided board-level management of all IT and data security protocols for this bricks-and-mortar retail business which handled sensitive, personally identifiable medical data records. Implementation of In-Store Retail data systems as well as 3 E-Commerce portals. Provided direct control over PCI-DSS Compliance as well as GDPR implementations.

2000 - 2005 Ellipse Chordiant Software

Network Systems Administrator & IT Manager EMEA

Initially hired to implement remote access solution for consultants based onsite in Banking, Financial and Insurance corporations across the EMEA region. After extensive mergers, I took on various roles and eventually led the IT Management Team for the EMEA region. Had extensive oversight of email-spam prevention systems. Firewall implementations and IDS/IPS systems management.

1998 - 2000 Ellipse Protocol Business Communications

IT Technical Services Manager

Onsite support for Large Corporate Clients in Legal, Banking, Insurance, Multi-Site Retail and other corporations. Planned and executed disaster-recovery solutions, remote access and VPN solutions. Site-to-Site leased line data solutions using Cisco and other vendor hardware.

Education

2024 - 2025 Ellipse Google CyberSecurity Professional Certificate

Google Cybersecurity Certificate

Detailed cybersecurity Analyst Training

Detailed training over over 170 hours in duration covering CyberSecurity threats on Windows, Linux and MacOs systems. Detailed look at real world cyber threats with hands-on labs.

2024 - 2025 Ellipse Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals Specialization

Network and CyberSecurity Analyst Training

Focused on detection and analysis of modern cybersecurity threats, including in cloud computing environments. Emphasis on Cisco Networking Systems, but also covering other key vendors in network infrastructure solutions.

2024 Ellipse CCST - CyberSecurity

CCST Cybersecurity Logo

Cisco Certified Support Technician Cybersecurity

The CCST Cybersecurity certification validates the essential knowledge and skills necessary to demonstrate work-ready cybersecurity skills. This certification verifies a candidates ability to troublehoot and manage a wide range of Cybersecurity tasks on multiple systems including Linux, Windows, MacOS, Mobile devices and Network Infrastructure.

2025 (In-Progress) Ellipse CCST - Networking

Cisco Certified Support Technician Networking

The CCST Networking certification validates the essential knowledge and skills necessary to demonstrate work-ready Cisco Networking skills. This certification verifies a candidates ability to troublehoot and manage a wide range of Cisco Support tasks on multiple systems including Linux, Windows, MacOS, Mobile devices and Cisco Network Infrastructure.

Contact

Let's talk and collaborate about your needs, please feel free to contact me.

+44 7458 149 306

London, UK
Sydney, Australia

Frequently Asked Questions

There's always lots of questions that come up regarding "what" exactly an experienced IT cybersecurity consultant can do for your business. Hopefully, I've answered some of the most common questions here. But for anything else, Let's Connect on LinkedIn and we can collaborate on your next project or challenge.

Do you work with clients remotely?

I work almost exclusively remotely with all of my clients. I am however acutely aware that remote access into your secure network or data systems can be an issue. That's why I've invested in next-generation Multi-Factor Authentication and encryption methods to ensure our communications and access are encrypted at all times.

However, I am available for face-to-face meetings, consultations and work projects by arrangement.

What types of companies can benefit from your services?

Any small or medium sized businesses can benefit from my services. Especially where your company may lack the skills internally to deal with IT Data Security. But because I've worked with all sizes of companies over my career, I can adapt and fit in to any project tasks that may require my skills and expertise.

How do you approach web design as part of a visual identity?

I believe that your website should be designed and function to bring in new clients to your business. I'm amazed how many current websites aren't optimized for mobile phones or accessible to everyone regardless of any special needs that a potential client may have when accessing your site. So typically I approach any visual design task by reviewing what already exists and a work on fixing what doesn't work. This can be challenging, but the aim is to get Pagespeed load times within the green circles for performance metrics.

Do you offer customization for each client's unique needs?

Absolutely! I think detailed scoping sessions can help define a project early on and ensure that the deliverables are on-time and on-budget.

What software and tools do you use in your analysis process?

I don't disclose the exact tools that I use on this webpage for security reasons. But once we engage on a project, I do share how and why I have discovered a technical vulnerability. Reporting is a huge part of what I do, as it helps us to close the loop and feedback into the project life-cycle.

However, during my engagement process, we can contractually agree use of tools and methods to address your needs.

How do I get started with hiring you for a project?

The easiest way is to connect with me on LinkedIn and send me a direct message detailing your project ideas. Yu can also use my contact form above.