Sarah Armstrong-Smith

Cybersecurity authority, ex-Microsoft EMEA Chief Security Advisor and bestselling author on resilience, crisis leadership and digital trust

why book sarah?

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Sarah Armstrong-Smith brings unparalleled domain expertise from decades leading cyber strategy at global organisations like Microsoft, the London Stock Exchange Group and Fujitsu, helping audiences demystify digital risk and resilience

She translates complexity into clarity, with a dynamic delivery that connects technical insight with business priorities — inspiring leaders, risk professionals and teams to act with confidence and purpose

Sarah’s real-world impact motivates action, from shaping national cyber policy as a UK Government Cyber Advisory Board member to empowering diverse talent and driving culture-wide resilience across sectors

“A huge thank you for today’s session – you were absolutely fantastic. You managed to make cloud security (a topic that usually makes people’s eyes glaze over) sound not just urgent but genuinely engaging. That’s a rarity in this industry, and our audience definitely felt it. I really hope this is the first of many sessions we get to do together. You brought clarity, energy and plenty of aha! moments – and honestly, I’m already trying to figure out how to lure you back for round two. Thanks again for lending us your time and brilliance today. We’d love to collaborate more often – and next time, maybe we’ll even manage to make misconfigurations sound glamorous.“

Supriya, SecPod

Biography

Sarah Armstrong-Smith is one of the UK’s most respected voices in cybersecurity, resilience and crisis leadership, known for her strategic insight and ability to translate complex risk into organisational confidence and action. With a distinguished career spanning more than 25 years, she has guided governments and global enterprises through digital transformation, security disruption and operational uncertainty.

Most recently, Sarah served as Chief Security Advisor for Microsoft across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, where she shaped regional strategy and advised executive teams on evolving cyber threats, cloud adoption and systemic resilience. Prior to Microsoft, she held senior leadership roles including Group Head of Business Resilience & Crisis Management for the London Stock Exchange Group and Head of Continuity & Resilience, Enterprise & Cyber Security at Fujitsu, where she oversaw large-scale risk and security programmes.

A recognised thought leader, Sarah’s expertise has been highlighted through numerous industry accolades, including being named among Computer Weekly’s Most Influential Women in UK Tech and SC Media’s Top 30 Female Cybersecurity Leaders. In 2025 she was appointed to the UK Government Cyber Advisory Board, advising on national cyber strategy and resilience policy.

Sarah is the author of two acclaimed titles: Effective Crisis Management and Understand the Cyber Attacker Mindset, the latter becoming an Amazon best-seller in 2024 for its strategic examination of attacker psychology and organisational defence.

Known for her clarity, empathy and strategic foresight, Sarah helps audiences see cyber security not just as a technical challenge but as a business-wide responsibility and opportunity for innovation and competitive advantage.

Topics

Navigating Cyber Threats with Confidence

Resilience as a Strategic Advantage in a Digital Age

Building Trust and Security in an Interconnected World

How Leadership Shapes Cyber Success

The Workforce Behind Cyber Resilience

Understanding the Cyber Attacker Mindset

Crisis Leadership: Preparedness, Response and Recovery

Bridging Security, Culture and Business Strategy