🎙 Smart CIOs Do This: The Unspoken Rules of Cybersecurity Leadership with Andrew Griffiths
In this expert-driven episode, legacy CEO and cybersecurity strategist Andrew Griffiths joins Julie Riga to share the 3 essential ingredients smart CIOs use to protect and transform their organizations: visibility, proactive planning, and strategic implementation. With roots in Jamaica and a passion for technology, leadership, and purpose, Andrew reveals why today’s IT leaders must evolve, stay alert, and resolve conflict before crises strike. He unpacks how CIOs can assess vulnerabilities, employ multi-vendor strategies, and align infrastructure with corporate growth—all while designing with people, not just profits, in mind. From cybersecurity posture ratings to cloud-scale redundancy, this is a guide for tech leaders who believe in building resilient foundations. Bonus: we hear about Andrew’s favorite Jamaican food (ackee and corned pork) and his journey to building Annexus Technologies, a firm that protects data across the planet.
In this episode, Julie sits down with Andrew Griffiths, a legacy-minded CEO and founder of Annexus Technologies, a multinational IT firm known for building infrastructure so strong it rarely needs fixing. Andrew is a strategist, philosopher of security, and storyteller with a deep belief in designing systems that protect people, not just profits.
Together, they dive deep into the three essential ingredients for CIO success and explore the unspoken rules of cybersecurity leadership that smart CIOs follow to protect their organizations.
Guest Background
Andrew Griffiths is the CEO and founder of Annexus Technologies, a cybersecurity firm registered in Jamaica since 2014, now expanding into Canada. Andrew's unique perspective on IT infrastructure was shaped by early exposure to satellites, electronics, and various technologies, leading him to see IT as ubiquitous and transformative. His philosophy centers on optimizing existing systems and connecting people through technology.
Fun Fact: Andrew's favorite food is ackee and corned pork - a unique twist on Jamaica's national dish that substitutes corned pork for the traditional saltfish.
Key Topics Discussed
The Three Ingredients for CIO Success:
1 Visibility & Assessment
- Understanding what's happening both inside and outside your network
- The importance of secure design for internal and external domains
- Implementing layers of trust with zero-trust principles
2 Proactive Analysis & Planning
- Moving from prevention to proactivity
- Understanding your cybersecurity posture rating (0-100)
- Identifying compromised credentials on the dark web
- Creating mitigation plans for when breaches occur
3 Strategic Implementation
- Balancing cost-effectiveness with security requirements
- Planning for short-term, medium-term, and long-term security needs
- Aligning business objectives with IT infrastructure
The Annexus Approach:
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.