Rik Ferguson

Vice President of Security Intelligence at Forescount, Special Advisor to Europol, Co-Founder of Respect in Security & Inductee into the Infosecurity Hall of Fame

Rik Ferguson’s Biography:

Rik Ferguson is one of the most respected voices in global cybersecurity, with more than 30 years of experience helping organisations understand and combat evolving cyber threats. Currently the Vice President of Security Intelligence at Forescout, Rik is recognised for his expertise in cyber resilience, threat intelligence and international security policy. As a founding Special Advisor to the European Cybercrime Centre and Special Advisor to Europol since 2013, he has played a significant role in shaping discussions around cybercrime and digital security. His work with governments, international organisations and private sector leaders makes him a highly sought-after keynote speaker on cybersecurity, risk management and emerging threats.

Rik began his career in 1994 as a Technical Support Advisor at The Merchants Group before progressing to Senior Technical Support Advisor at Xerox in 1996. He later joined Impresse.com as a Senior Support Specialist before moving to McAfee as a Senior Product Engineer in 2001. Building on his technical expertise, he became a Security & Privacy Architect at EDS in 2006. Rik subsequently spent 15 years at Trend Micro, rising to Vice President of Security Research and becoming one of the industry’s most recognised public advocates for cyber awareness and resilience. In 2021, he co-founded Respect in Security, an initiative focused on improving inclusion and professionalism within the cybersecurity sector.

Throughout his career, Rik has received numerous industry honours. He was inducted into the Infosecurity Hall of Fame in 2011 and has been recognised with awards including Contribution to IT at the 2014 Network Computing Awards, Best Security Tweeter at the 2013 European Security Blog Awards and Cybersecurity Personality of the Year at the 2019 Cyber Security Awards. Beyond cybersecurity, he wrote and produced award-winning science fiction series inspired by cybersecurity research, with two productions receiving the Grand Prix at the World Media Festival.

A respected thought leader, Rik contributes to public-interest cyber resilience initiatives with international and governmental stakeholders. He has participated in United Nations cyber discussions at the OEWG intersessional level, while his insights have informed UK parliamentary scrutiny of cyber resilience legislation and European Parliament-commissioned research. Frequently quoted by major media outlets including the BBC, CNN, CNBC, Bloomberg, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Sky News and Al Jazeera, Rik regularly addresses audiences at leading global events including RSA Conference, Infosecurity Europe, Mobile World Congress, GITEX, Aspen Security Forum, Munich Security Conference Cyber Security Summit and UK Cyber Week.

Why Hire Rik Ferguson?

Rik delivers a rare combination of frontline technical expertise, strategic policy insight and engaging storytelling. Having advised international law enforcement agencies, participated in high-level cyber policy discussions and spoken at many of the world’s most prestigious cybersecurity events, he provides audiences with practical and actionable intelligence on today’s threat landscape. His ability to translate complex cybersecurity issues into accessible and compelling presentations makes him valuable for corporate conferences, government events and leadership summits. Rik’s extensive media experience further enhances his engaging and authoritative speaking style.

Rik Ferguson‘s Career Highlights:

Here are some of the key milestones that define Rik Ferguson’s remarkable career:

• 2021 – Co-founded Respect in Security, an initiative dedicated to promoting inclusion, professionalism and respect within the cybersecurity industry.
• 2019 – Received the Cybersecurity Personality of the Year award at the Cyber Security Awards.
• 2013 – Became Special Advisor to Europol and a founding Special Advisor to the European Cybercrime Centre (EC3).
• 2013 – Won Best Security Tweeter at the European Security Blog Awards for his influence and thought leadership online.
• 2011 – Inducted into the Infosecurity Hall of Fame in recognition of his contribution to cybersecurity.
• 2006 – Joined EDS as Security & Privacy Architect, focusing on enterprise security and risk management.
• 2001 – Became Senior Product Engineer at McAfee, developing expertise in cybersecurity technologies and threat protection.
• 2000 – Joined Impresse.com as Senior Support Specialist, expanding his technical support and systems knowledge.
• 1996 – Appointed Senior Technical Support Advisor at Xerox, supporting enterprise technology environments.
• 1994 – Began his career as a Technical Support Advisor at The Merchants Group, establishing the technical foundations for a distinguished cybersecurity career.