Peter Villiers appointed Director of Cyber Risk at Barrier Networks

Peter Villiers has been appointed Director of Cyber Risk at Barrier Networks as the company sees increased growth in staff numbers and turnover.

Barrier Networks, based in Glasgow, operates in the field of managed security services for large enterprises and critical national infrastructure. The appointment of Villiers is aligned with a period of strong business performance, marked by an increase in revenue and expansion of its workforce.

Background and experience

Villiers brings considerable experience in cyber strategy, risk management and cyber operations, having held positions across both the public and private sectors. His resume includes significant roles within defence, national infrastructure, and FTSE100 companies. Most recently, he served as the Chief Information Security Officer for one of the Ministry of Defence's largest IT programmes, where he focused on securing digital capabilities at a national scale.

As a Cyber Reservist, Villiers leads teams delivering mission assurance, incident response and penetration testing on deployed defence systems globally.

Ian McGowan, Managing Director of Barrier Networks, welcomed the appointment, highlighting the specific skills Villiers brings to the role.

"We're thrilled to welcome Peter to Barrier. Having worked closely with him in the past, I've seen first-hand the expertise, commitment and tenacity he brings to cyber leadership. His background across defence, critical infrastructure and operational technology makes him a perfect fit for our team, and our customers will significantly benefit from his expertise in securing complex, high-risk environments."

Focus on governance, risk and compliance

In his new position, Villiers will lead and expand Barrier's Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) business. His responsibilities will include developing strategies and delivering services that address the growing regulatory requirements and the evolving landscape of cyber threats.

Villiers will oversee the implementation of best practices in cyber resilience for a broad spectrum of clients, supporting organisations as they adjust to increased demands on internal security resources. Villiers commented on his new role and the direction of Barrier's services.

"I'm delighted to join Barrier Networks at such a pivotal time in its growth. Having worked with the team before, I know the strength of their technical delivery and their commitment to clients. With growing threats to critical national infrastructure and cyber risk generally, I'm excited to help expand our GRC capabilities and support organisations in building secure, resilient systems from the ground up."

Company growth and outlook

The last twelve months have seen Barrier Networks' revenue increase by more than 20% year-on-year for the second year running. The company's team has more than doubled over the past five years, now approaching 40 employees. Its Security Operation Centre has expanded to accommodate a growing client base.

Barrier Networks plans to launch its first proprietary software this year, which aims to help organisations manage and reduce their cyber risk. The development of their own security platform forms part of an overall strategy to provide more comprehensive support to clients.

The company has added new technology partners and increased its range of cyber security services, reflecting wider market trends where regulatory requirements are becoming stricter and cyber security challenges more complex.

Barrier Networks continues to serve customers in both private and public sectors, focusing on providing consultancy, managed services, and assurance functions, which include penetration testing and vulnerability management.

The company's stated objective is to help clients build trust, achieve greater cyber resilience, and develop robust defences against evolving digital threats.