Ivor Blatchford M.D. - Insight Security

Drawing on my wealth of experience gained working in the Private and Public Sectors, I am delighted to be able to deliver FREE Security Advice, and Practical, Proven, Cost Effective Security Solutions to customers via Insight Security, the company I formed in 1990. 

I have always been fascinated by how things work, how they are made and the various ways in which they can be used.

It`s not surprising therefore that when I formed Insight Security, the focus was very much on finding existing, or developing new, high-quality security and safety products that could be used singly or in combination to deliver practical, cost effective solutions for end user problems and issues.

Personal Career Progression and Achievements

My career started in the IT industry, specialising in Systems and Business Analyst roles before moving on to Project Management where I was involved in the Implementation of many complex projects in a variety of Private and Public Sector businesses, organisations and environments.

Working in such diverse environments as; Local Government, the Gas Industry and the Post Office as well as within large, multi-discipline, private companies, I have been fortunate enough to gain a wealth of experience, from the many interesting major projects in which I have played a key role during the development, management and implementation.

Many of these projects involved working with and co-ordinating multi discipline / multi regional teams, which allowed me to gain invaluable knowledge of various types of business and the unique issues faced by each.

I then moved into IT Management, taking the position of "IT Manager" for a large Local Authority, where the immediate task was to replace an aging Mainframe Computer with a State-of-The-Art unit, to review all current application systems, and to formulate and introduce the future on-line strategy. Having successfully completed these tasks within 3 years, I was recruited to the position of "Assistant Director of IT" with Royal Mail, where after an enjoyable and productive few years, I was tempted to move across to the IT Supplier camp, joining ICL/Fujitsu. Here I managed a busy Technical and Sales Support Team of fourteen specialists supporting one of the key sectors of the business. It was whilst there that I spotted an emerging need for Computer Security solutions for the blossoming PC industry, which led me to leave to form my own company, Insight Security.

As a founder member of SOCITM (Society of IT Managers), A Member of the British Computer Society (formed in 1957 bcs now has 68,000 members spanning some 150 countries – and hence has become "bsc The Chartered Institute for IT")

and former Chairman of the IBM User Group (Local Government), I have participated in the work of several committees and advisory boards during my career, covering such areas as; Data Protection, Security Policy, IT Standards, Risk Assessment & Risk Management, and Quality among others, as well as being directly involved in the drafting of the initial Data Protection Legislation.

Starting up and growing Insight Security

Since forming Insight Security in 1990, my reputation for delivering practical, informed and impartial advice on security matters, has led to my delivering specialist advice and articles for many publications including- RISK(UK) magazine, - Business Continuity, - Security & Fire Specifier, - Education Today, - Facilities Management, and - Professional Security magazine.

By request, I have also provided advice and shared my expertise with other organisations such as BBC News, ALARM (Association of Local Authority Risk Managers), the Police, and Insurance Companies among others.

Insight Security was initially set up to deliver security solutions to protect PCs, printers and other equipment against the growing threat of theft.

As there were few appropriate products available at the time, my first task was to develop a purpose designed range of anti-theft products, which included - Security Enclosures, the CAB-L-OCK range of lock down systems, and sensor based movement alarms among others

Product development was undertaken with carefully selected specialist engineering companies, whilst product performance standards, product testing and approvals, etc., involved working closely with Insurers, the Police and the Loss Prevention Council among others. 

These early efforts were well rewarded however, when Insight Security won the tender to lock down all PCs and printers, throughout all branches of a major High Street Bank (having delivered thousands of security products into the branches, the contract was extended without re-tendering at the end of the initial 2 year period).

As awareness of the Insight Security product range grew, we became the computer security supplier of choice for many more companies and organisations throughout the Private and Public Sectors, whilst based on the Insight Security reputation for delivering quality, practical solutions, I was frequently asked for other types of security, keeping me and my growing team of specialists busy sourcing, testing and where appropriate developing new products.

Advisory and Educational Role

On entering the security industry, I was appalled at the almost total lack of help and advice offered to customers by many of the then security suppliers. This lack of help, coupled with a plethora of products offering questionable performance combined with excessive marketing hype, often led to customers purchasing substandard or simply inappropriate security products or solutions.

I decided therefore that with Insight Security, I would set the standard for other companies to aspire to and hence, I set the company – Customer First Ethos to deliver practical, impartial and helpful advice - Free of Charge to anyone needing it.

Initially this involved producing a number of Application and Product focussed leaflets, covering the products that were available, what they were designed to do, how they worked, where they would be effective (and just as importantly, where they would not provide a solution), and so on. As the Insight Security product portfolio grew, I took the decision to update and consolidate the various leaflets into a single document, which became the Insight Security - Blue Book Guide to Security.

By the time we produced Issue 3 of the Blue Book, it had become a much respected and sought-after publication which was used as a reference point by security professionals throughout the UK (some 30,000 copies were issued on request, to Crime Prevention Officers in Police forces UK wide, to Insurance Surveyors, and other Security Specialists).

By issue 4, the Blue Book had grown to some 230 pages of invaluable information and general security advice, as well as providing details of a wide range of security products (although the Insight Security - Risk Assessment Guide remained a separate document).

Although I am proud of what was achieved with the Blue Book, after Issue 4 (as shown here), my effort supported by my team of specialists, has been channelled into delivering videos and up to date advice and information (much of it downloadable), more instantly through our dynamic and ever expanding Insight Security website; www.insight-security.com

Insight Security – Customer First - Company Ethos

As Insight Security has grown, I have ensured that all team members recruited, fully embrace the company ethos which reflects my own set of Customer First values.

Whilst obviously, as a business we need sales to survive, my team are incentivised to deliver practical, cost effective solutions for our customers, rather than simply shift boxes!

Our Free advice is often key to delivering the best solution to a customer, and as we only sell Tried and Tested Products that we understand and can support, we are happy to offer our "No Quibble Money Back Guarantee" – providing a Risk-Free purchase for our customers when they buy directly from us.

See more at; our "About Insight Security" and "Customer Service" pages  .