Daniel is the first Professor of Cyber Security at the University of Manchester which he joined after 22 years with The National Computing Centre where he designed DTI’s Towards Software Excellence programme, created SANS’ BS 7799 training, edited the UK’s first national security breaches survey, and co-wrote the standards for IT departments, SMEs, and source code escrow.

He takes a diverse community-based approach to cyber security, running exercises to help cope with the risk of on-line harms (young people in particular). He is a founder of The IASME Consortium applying his work in standards to champion cyber security for SMEs. He is a vocal advocate of the local cyber ecosystem of the North West of England, furthering the opportunities cyber security offers innovation and growth as part of the Centre for Digital Trust and Society, and Manchester City Centre’s DiSH – Digital Security Hub. His research is centred around balancing people and technology for successful cyber security. Daniel finds the threads that bind information together and mends them when they break.

Daniel lectures about risk and cyber defence to Indian and Western Balkans cohorts at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom for the Chevening Programme. Daniel revived The Ratio Club thought leadership group for cybernetics as part of his research work promoting the balance between people and technology.

Daniel contributes to books, conferences, and appears on the BBC explaining cyber security to the wider community. He is a Fellow and Founder member of the Chartered Institute of Information Security. Daniel was voted a top 20 cyber security influencer worldwide 2018-2021 and Best Educator at the Security Serious Awards 2022.