Richard Birks Email & Phone Number

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

Responsible for overseeing and managing multiple security platforms across NatWest Group. Focused on building robust, secure solutions while leading high-performing teams. Key platforms include:* Privileged Access Management: Managed the group's custom PAM platform, enhancing privileged access security.* Database Security: Managed the group’s IBM Guardium platform, installed across the banks SQL, Oracle, Sybase and Teradata database servers, ensuring compliance with SOX and protecting critical business applications. * Credential Management: Managed the group's Cyberark Vault and delivered KeePass as a virtual app across multiple franchises, streamlining credential management processes.* Single Sign-On (SSO) Management: Managed content and support for the group’s previous RSA Cleartrust SSO platform, ensuring seamless user access and system reliability.* Compliance and Integrity Monitoring: Managed the bank’s PCI-DSS Tripwire platform, ensuring compliance with key regulatory standards.* File Server Permissions: Administered permissions across Windows and Netapp file servers using the Varonis platform, enhancing data access controls.* Encryption: Managed Checkpoint Media Encryption for the Markets' physical desktop estate.Key Achievements:* Led critical upgrades of the PAM platform, CyberArk, and Guardium, improving platform security, stability and scalability* Consolidated CyberArk instances across Markets, RBS Invoice Finance (RBS-IF), and RBS International into a single instance, reducing redundancy and costs and streamlining security management.* Managed Guardium installations across a substantial number of database servers, ensuring SOX compliance and supporting key business applications while enhancing the platform’s capability.* Passionate about developing diverse teams, having participated in the mentoring program for nearly a decade. Supported colleagues in their career journeys, and development while fostering an inclusive workplace culture.

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

Served initially as the Technical Design Authority (TDA) for the bank's CyberArk platform but quickly took on the role of interim Service Manager within Global IT Security. Managed various services, including CyberArk, IBM Guardium Database Monitoring, and administration of the RSA Cleartrust platform.While fulfilling these responsibilities, I developed in-house automation tools to enhance CyberArk compliance, satisfying my technical interests and improving operational efficiency.Key Achievements:* Developed in-house automation tools to enhance CyberArk compliance, streamlining processes and improving security management.* Led improvements in the operational capabilities of IBM Guardium, ensuring effective monitoring and compliance across the database estate.

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

Responsible for leading a team of third-level engineers in delivering web and directory services at the Royal Bank of Scotland. Oversaw support for internal and external web-facing services, including online banking brands (NatWest, RBS, Ulster, Tesco, Coutts) and the UKI family of Insurance brands (Direct Line, Churchill, Tesco Insurance). The team provided internet access for over 20,000 colleagues and supported one of the largest Active Directory installations in Europe.Key Achievements:* Transfer of Workload: Successfully transferred over 60% of the team’s workload to RBS’s India Technology Services team offshore, optimizing efficiency.* High Service Availability: Maintained high service availability and project delivery during a significant UK strategic redundancy program.* Data Centre Efficiency Initiative: Led a Data Centre Efficiency Initiative resulting in the decommissioning of 100+ servers and virtualization of over 100 candidates, achieving annualized savings in excess of £300K.* Vendor Contract Savings: Achieved annualized vendor contract savings of over £200K in 2011 and £70K in 2010, with an additional £50K cost avoidance in 2012.

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

Joined RBS as a Senior Technical Analyst within the E-Services Internet Support team, focusing on third-level support for the bank's premier online services, including well-known high street names such as Natwest Online Banking, RBS Digital, and Tesco Personal Finance. The team expanded to over 12 engineers supporting more than 200 web-facing services, including commercial banking products like Royline and Bankline, as well as insurance quote-and-buy portals such as Directline, Churchill, Tesco Insurance, and Greenflag Breakdown.Key Achievements:* Developed a patching tool that automated the installation of missing Microsoft patches across the team’s Windows server estate, enhancing security and compliance.* Designated as team operational lead in late 2008, overseeing daily operations and evolving into the Service Manager role in 2010, improving team efficiency and service delivery.

Derby, United Kingdom

Data Systems and Solutions was a joint venture between Rolls-Royce Control Systems and SAIC, providing bespoke software and hardware solutions to the transport, defense, and scientific communities. I worked in the Enterprise Systems Division, offering infrastructure design, implementation, and support globally.Key Achievements:* Designed, built, and supported core infrastructure solutions for various clients, including BAE and the MoD.* Played a key role in deploying a small data centre at a Derby site, featuring 12 racks of servers and cross-site fibre connectivity.* Engine Data Centre Infrastructure: Led the purchase, assembly, and installation of the original Engine Data Centre's infrastructure in 1999, including building, racking, and wiring three Compaq ProLiant servers. This setup was critical for processing real-time data from aircraft engines, supporting advanced analytics for predictive maintenance, and reinforcing Rolls-Royce's commitment to innovation in the transport and defence sectors.

Derby, United Kingdom

Contributed to the Scientific Software department within the Marine Power division, focusing on the development and maintenance of safety-critical software for water-based propulsion systems, including gas turbines and the PWR2 core for the Royal Navy's nuclear submarines. Collaborated with a team of engineers to enhance mathematical modeling and submarine-borne software.Key Achievement: Successfully converted a suite of existing Fortran mathematical models from a Unisys mainframe to run on Solaris 1 and Solaris 2 machines, improving accessibility and performance.

2:1 Bsc (Hons), Computer Science Systems Architecture

Education record