Ivor Blatchford M.D. – Insight Security
As the Managing Director of Insight Security which I formed in 1990, I have enjoyed an exciting and rewarding time, growing the business from our early focus on delivering physical lock down type, computer security products, to supplying a wide variety of high quality, safety and security solutions, to clients throughout the Private and Public Sectors and to homeowners UK wide.
Drawing on my wealth of direct experience gained working in the Private and Public Sectors, I am delighted to be able to deliver through my team of specialists, FREE and Impartial Security Advice, as well as our Tried, Tested & Trusted, Practical, Proven, Cost Effective Security Solutions.
From early childhood, I have been fascinated by how things work, how they are made and the various ways in which they can be used.
So it’s hardly surprising, that when I formed Insight Security, my focus was on finding existing, or developing new, high-quality security and safety products that could be used singly or in combination to deliver practical, cost effective solutions to solve end user problems and issues.
Personal Career Progression and Achievements
My career started in the IT industry, specialising in Systems and Business Analyst roles before moving on to Project Management where I was involved in the Implementation of many complex projects in a variety of Private and Public Sector businesses, organisations and environments.
Working in environments, from Local Government, to the Gas Industry and the Post Office, as well as working for large and small, multi-discipline, private companies, I have gained a wealth of experience.
Playing a key role during the development, management and implementation of many major projects, often involving working with, and co-ordinating multi discipline / multi regional teams, allowed me to gain invaluable knowledge of various types of business and the unique issues faced by each.
From my various project development roles in the IT sector, it was a natural step to a position of “IT Manager” for a large Local Authority, where the immediate task was to replace an aging Mainframe Computer, with a State-of-The-Art unit, to review all current application systems, and to formulate and introduce the future on-line strategy.
Having successfully completed these tasks within 3 years, I was recruited to the position of “Assistant Director of IT” with Royal Mail, where after an enjoyable and productive few years, I was tempted to move across to the IT Supplier camp, joining ICL/Fujitsu, where I managed a busy Technical and Sales Support Team of fourteen specialists supporting one of the key sectors of the business. It was whilst there that I spotted an emerging need for Computer Security solutions for the blossoming PC industry, which led me to leave to form my own company, Insight Security.
As a founder member of SOCITM (Society of IT Managers), A Member of the British Computer Society and former Chairman of the IBM User Group (Local Government), I have participated in the work of several committees and advisory boards during my career, covering such areas as; Data Protection, Security Policy, IT Standards, Risk Assessment & Risk Management, and Quality among others, as well as being directly involved in the drafting of the initial Data Protection Legislation.
Starting up and growing Insight Security
Since forming Insight Security in 1990, my reputation for delivering practical, informed and impartial advice on security matters, has led to my delivering specialist advice and articles for many publications including RISK(UK) magazine, Business Continuity, Security & Fire Specifier, Education Today, Facilities Management, and Professional Security magazine.
I have also provided advice and shared my expertise with other organisations such as BBC News, ALARM (Association of Local Authority Risk Managers), the Police, and Insurance Companies among others.
Insight Security was initially set up to deliver security solutions to protect PCs, printers and other equipment against the growing threat of theft, and as there were few appropriate products available at the time, my first task was to develop a purpose designed range of anti-theft lock down products for PCs and associated equipment.
Product development was undertaken with carefully selected specialist engineering companies, whilst product performance standards, product testing and approvals, etc., involved working closely with Insurers, the Police and the Loss Prevention Council among others.
These early efforts were well rewarded however, when Insight Security won the tender to lock down all PCs and printers, throughout the HQ, and all branches of a major High Street Bank. As awareness of the Insight Security product range grew, Insight became the computer security supplier of choice for many more companies and organisations throughout the Private and Public Sectors, whilst based on the Insight Security reputation for delivering quality, practical solutions, I was frequently asked for other types of security, keeping me and my growing team of specialists busy sourcing, testing and where appropriate developing new products.
Advisory and Educational Role
On entering the security industry, I was appalled at the almost total lack of help and advice offered to customers by many of the then security suppliers. This lack of help, coupled with a plethora of products offering questionable performance, combined with excessive marketing hype, often led to customers purchasing substandard or simply inappropriate security products or solutions.
I decided therefore that with Insight Security, I would set the standard for other companies to aspire to and hence, I set the company – Customer First Ethos to deliver practical, impartial and helpful advice – Free of Charge to anyone needing it.
Before the widespread use of the internet and websites, I launched the Insight Security – Blue Book Guide to Security.
By the time we produced Issue 3 of the Blue Book, it had become a much respected and sought-after publication which was used as a reference point by security professionals throughout the UK (some 30,000 copies were issued on request, to Crime Prevention Officers in Police forces UK wide, to Insurance Surveyors, and other Security Specialists).
By issue 4, the Blue Book had grown to some 230 pages of invaluable information and general security advice, as well as providing details of our wide range of safety and security products. Although proud of what was achieved with the Blue Book, my effort supported by my team of specialists, is now channelled into delivering Great Products through our on-line shop, plus videos, blogs and up to date advice and information, more instantly through our dynamic and ever expanding Insight Security website; www.insight-security.com and our other specialist sites such as www.foneaway-phone-pouch.co.uk
Insight Security – ‘Customer First’ Company Ethos
As Insight Security has grown, I have ensured that all team members recruited, fully embrace the company ethos which reflects my own set of Customer First values.
Whilst obviously, as a business we need sales to survive, my team are incentivised to deliver practical, cost effective solutions for our customers, rather than simply shift boxes!
Our Free advice is often key to delivering the best solution to a customer, and as we only sell Tried and Tested Products that we understand and can support, we are happy to offer our “No Quibble Money Back Guarantee” – providing a Risk-Free purchase for our customers when they buy directly from us. I am constantly gratified by the number of great reviews and thanks we receive from our customers, and delighted that our practical, no-nonsense advice and proven products has saved them hundreds of thousands of pounds over the last 35 years, by focussing on delivering the right products and solutions for their specific issues.
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