Sarah Armstrong-Smith
Sarah Armstrong-Smith | |
|---|---|
| Citizenship | British |
| Occupation | Chief information security officer |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Employer | Microsoft |
| Known for | Cybersecurity expert |
| Notable work |
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| Honours |
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Sarah Armstrong-Smith is a British Chief information security officer who serves as Chief Security Advisor for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) at Microsoft. She is a Fellow of the British Computer Society and a published author.[1][2][3][4]
Career
Armstrong-Smith began her career in the mid-1990s. In 1995 she held a position at PHH Arval as a fraud controller. She then worked as a business continuity analyst at Thames Water. At this period she was involved in working on the Year 2000 problem (the Millennium) transition. In 2001 she was appointed Disaster Recovery Manager at AXA and subsequently held the position of Manager, Technology Risk Services at Ernst & Young.[5][6][7]
Following these roles, Armstrong-Smith spent approximately eleven years at Fujitsu. She joined Fujitsu as Chief Consultant on Cyber Security and progressed through roles including Management Consultant (Enterprise & Cyber Security), Engineer and Head of Continuity & Resilience, Enterprise & Cyber Security.[8][9] In 2019, she took on the role of Group Head of Business Resilience & Crisis Management at the London Stock Exchange Group and took on a non-executive directorship at Decipher Cyber.[10][11]
Microsoft
In 2020, she joined Microsoft as Chief Security Advisor for EMEA, where she influence security practice, provides strategic guidance on cybersecurity, compliance, and organisational resilience. With her background in crisis management and disaster recovery, she has driven initiatives that strengthen businesses against cyber attacks and large-scale disruptions. In her role, Armstrong-Smith partners with enterprise customers to design security strategies to meet regulatory demands but also address the realities of an evolving threat landscape.[12][13]
Recognition
Armstrong-Smith has received industry recognition. Which include being listed among The Most Inspirational Women in Cyber UK (2020)[14] and being named to SC Media’s Top 30 Female Cybersecurity Leaders (2022),[15] She was also included on Cyber Security Hub’s inaugural Top 20 Cyber Security Movers and Shakers (2022),[16] featured on Computer Weekly lists of influential women in UK technology (2023),[17] and recognised by Women in Cybersecurity as one of the Top 25 Leaders in Cyber Security (2024).[18]
Books
- Effective Crisis Management: A Robust A-Z Guide for Demonstrating Resilience by Utilizing Best Practices, Case Studies, and Experiences (2022)[19]
- Understand the Cyber Attacker Mindset: Build a Strategic Security Programme to Counteract Threats (2024)[20]
References
- ^ MacRae, Duncan (2025-03-17). "Sarah Armstrong-Smith, Microsoft: From the Millennium Bug to the latest cyber threats". Cloud Computing News. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
- ^ "Facing up to cyber-crime". Business Reporter. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
- ^ "Conversations With Trailblazing Women: Sarah Armstrong-Smith, Chief Security Advisor Of Microsoft – Dataconomy". 2025-03-13. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
- ^ DigitalDefynd, Team (2024-09-14). "25 Famous Female Leaders in Cybersecurity [2025]". DigitalDefynd. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
- ^ Day, International Women's. "Chief Security Advisor EMEA of Microsoft, Fellow of the British Computer Society & Author of Effective Crisis Management". International Women's Day. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
- ^ "Webinar: Wominspiration: Microsoft Chief Security Advisor Sarah Armstrong-Smith | BCS". www.bcs.org. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
- ^ "Sarah Armstrong-Smith is the Chief Security Adviser at Microsoft Europe Talks To European Busineess Magazine – European Business & Finance Magazine". 2025-04-03. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
- ^ Ireland (2025-08-21). "Sarah Armstrong-Smith, Fujitsu comment on news that a new cybersecurity scheme aims to bring more women into the industry". Global Security Mag Online. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
- ^ "The Future of Cyber Security London 2025 – Speakers". cybereurope.events. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
- ^ Luckie, Shelley (2025-04-23). "Inspirational Woman: Sarah Armstrong-Smith | Chief Security Adviser, Microsoft Europe". WeAreTechWomen – Supporting Women in Technology. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
- ^ Tech, Innovation / (2023-09-14). "Microsoft's Chief Security Advisor for Europe Sarah Armstrong-Smith to Appear at Wales Tech Week 2023". Business News Wales. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
- ^ Security, Panda (2024-08-13). "16 Women in Cybersecurity Who Are Reshaping the Industry [2024]". Panda Security Mediacenter. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
- ^ "Cybersecurity expert Sarah Armstrong-Smith: How businesses can stay resilient against rising digital threats". LondonWorld. 2025-04-28. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
- ^ Flaherty, Kate O. (2020-10-29). "The Most Inspirational Women in Cyber UK 2020 – winners announced". IT Security Guru. Retrieved 2025-08-22.
- ^ "SARAH ARMSTRONG-SMITH". SC Awards Europe. Retrieved 2025-08-22.
- ^ Powell, Olivia (2022-07-22). "CS Hub launches 20 cybersecurity leaders to watch". Cyber Security Hub. Retrieved 2025-08-22.
- ^ "Nominate: Most Influential Women in UK Technology 2023". ComputerWeekly.com. Retrieved 2025-08-22.
- ^ "The Top 25 Leaders in Cyber Security 2024". www.wicys.org. WiCyS – Women in Cybersecurity. Retrieved 2025-08-22.
- ^ Armstrong-Smith, Sarah (2022). Effective Crisis Management. Delhi: BPB Publications. ISBN 978-93-5551-271-0.
- ^ Armstrong-Smith, Sarah (2024). Understand the cyber attacker mindset: build a strategic security programme to counteract threats. London, United Kingdom ; New York, NY, USA: Kogan Page. ISBN 978-1-3986-1430-7.