Zortrex, data security start-up, has announced the appointment of ex-Anonymous hacker Mike Jones as CISO.

The appointment of the former US military intelligence expert and reformed internet hacker, supports and advances Zortrex’s strategic aim to turn the tables on hackers; helping organizations to stem the rising tide of data breaches by closing security gaps and mitigating risk. Jones will play a key role in the launch of a range of cybersecurity education, consulting and threat risk assessment services.

Zortrex Chairwoman Susan Brown, said: “We are delighted to welcome Mike to the board of Zortrex as we continue to strengthen and diversify our business and help organizations protect against increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks.”

Jones will design and deliver a comprehensive set of security services including military-grade security awareness training, pen testing, threat intelligence and vulnerability assessments; designed to help organizations and public sector agencies better address data security in an ever-changing threat landscape.

Security continues to become increasingly more complex and Jones believes that developing a greater understanding of cybersecurity is critical if organizations are to protect themselves against sophisticated cyberattacks, says a press release. Lockdown saw cyber-attacks soar - the World Health Organisation reported a fivefold increase. Cybercriminals targeted both individuals and organisations, exploiting the vulnerability of home-based workers and capitalizing on fear and chaos to propagate their scams. “As we have seen in recent months, cyber threats are more prevalent than ever and show no sign of abating. The key to a good defense is knowing who and what you are defending against,” Jones said. “The increased threat surface combined with pressure on organisations to comply with a growing number of regulatory requirements, makes the requirement to identify vulnerabilities, understand and mitigate the risks, all the more critical.”