Titans of Tech - Sam Peters of ISMS.online

Sam Peters stands at the forefront of ISMS.online as the Chief Product Officer, with nearly two decades of experience in information security and digital technology.

His journey has been marked by a relentless pursuit of both excellence and innovation.

Peters' extensive background includes critical roles such as Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and Data Protection Officer (DPO), where he spearheaded efforts to maintain ISO 27001 certifications and other standards, including PSN.

ISMS.online, a global SaaS platform, is dedicated to helping organisations achieve their compliance goals. Peters' leadership is instrumental in ensuring the platform meets the evolving needs of its diverse clientele, ranging from small businesses to large enterprises.

"We help organisations achieve their compliance goals via our global SaaS platform ISMS.online. Whether someone is just beginning with a standard like ISO 27001 through to organisations managing a whole range of compliance activity from quality management to AI," Peters explained to TechDay.

One of the most exciting aspects of Peters' work is staying abreast of industry trends. The recent State of Information Security Report, conducted by ISMS.online, highlighted several promising trends. Notably, 51% of businesses surveyed plan to increase their information security budgets by up to 25% in the coming year. Peters finds this particularly encouraging as it underscores the critical importance of building effective information security foundations. Additionally, 60% of organisations intend to boost budgets for integrating security within DevOps and agile software development processes - a move Peters views as beneficial for all businesses.

Peters' current focus is on addressing the unique needs of enterprise clients, whose requirements differ significantly from smaller organisations. "Working out how to provide an engaging and easy-to-use product that scales from companies of 10 people to 10,000 is a great challenge to be involved in," he shared.

His role encompasses overall responsibility for the production team, which includes product management, engineering, and IT operations - totalling around 25 individuals.

The creation of the CPO role in 2021 was a strategic move to better align ISMS.online's product offerings with customer needs at the board level. "We’ve always been a company focused on helping people meet their goals and solve their challenges, so this was a logical next step for us," Peters remarks. The company's commitment to customer success is further reinforced by the recent addition of a VP of Customer within the Sales and Success team and a Head of Product within the Production team.

Based in Brighton, on the south coast of the UK, Peters' responsibilities span globally. This international scope involves collaborating with customers from Australia to the United States, often requiring early starts to accommodate different time zones. As ISMS.online continues to expand, with new offices opening in Sydney and the US, Peters' role becomes increasingly pivotal.

Why Sam Peters is a Titan of Tech

Under Peters' leadership, ISMS.online has made significant strides, transitioning from a largely government-focused business to serving over 25,000 users worldwide.

The platform's success is attributed to continuous innovation and the introduction of new tools and solutions to meet market demands. Recent updates include the release of full content for four new standards—ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 42001, and ISO 90001—along with enhancements to SOC 2 and EASA content.

Peters' involvement extends beyond product development; he engages directly with clients, prospects, and partners to understand their goals and ensure ISMS.online delivers a successful and engaging solution. His strategic insights and leadership are crucial for maintaining the company's competitive edge and fostering sustainable growth.

Reflecting on his journey, Peters acknowledged the transformative power of the right investment partners.

"We’ve grown from a team of 15 in 2019 to over 75 now. It’s been an amazing journey; you just need to get comfortable with the idea the right answer to any problem will change as you grow!" he noted.

ISMS.online's CEO, Luke Dash, applauds Peters' contributions.

"The CPO role has been vital for the growth of our business," Lash stressed, adding the role "ensures that our product vision aligns with our customers' needs, driving innovation and excellence."

Peters' dedication and the hard work of his talented team have been fundamental to the company's success, proving that with the right people, even small organisations can achieve great things.