Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) & Founder of Cyber Artificial Intelligence Systems Inc. AI cybersecurity architect, information security consultant, InfoSec researcher, policy advisor, and expert witness. University Gold Medallist and Cyber Defence Taskforce member.
Select your situation for tailored services and relevant case studies
Executive security leadership for transitions, crises, or strategic initiatives. Board-ready communication.
View Interim CISO Services →SABSA & TOGAF methodology. Zero Trust design. AWS/Azure/GCP. DevSecOps integration.
View Architecture Services →EU AI Act compliance. AI risk frameworks. Algorithmic impact assessments. Ethics board design.
View AI Governance →Digital Operational Resilience Act. NIS2. PCI DSS. 21 years financial services expertise.
View Compliance Services →Risk quantification for board reporting. Pre-acquisition security assessments. Deal protection.
View Risk Services →Discuss your specific requirements. References available. Typically available within 2 weeks.
Get in Touch →Kieran Upadrasta, CISSP is the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and Founder & Director of Cyber Artificial Intelligence Systems Inc. He is an AI cybersecurity architect, information security consultant, and InfoSec researcher with deep expertise in cyber defence, risk management, and enterprise security strategy.
With over 27 years of experience in business analysis, consulting, technical security strategy, architecture, governance, threat assessments, and risk management—including tenure at all Big 4 consulting firms and 21 years in financial and banking sectors—Kieran has guided leading corporations in achieving compliance with OCC, SOX, GLBA, HIPAA, ISO 27001, NIST, PCI DSS, and SAS 70.
A University Gold Medallist and member of a Cyber Defence Taskforce, Kieran contributes to strategic and operational cybersecurity initiatives at national and enterprise levels. He serves as a policy advisor and expert witness, and was lead author of a prize-winning research paper in AI and cybersecurity.
Trusted by CISOs, Board Directors, and C-Suite executives across Fortune 500 enterprises and regulated industries.
Strategic cybersecurity consulting for enterprises navigating complex regulatory and threat landscapes.
SABSA & TOGAF methodology. Zero Trust design. HLD & LLD Architecture. Board Reporting. M&A Cyber Due Diligence. Transform security into a business enabler.
Learn More →Executive security leadership for transitions, crises, or strategic initiatives. Board communication. Team leadership. Big 4 methodology. Available within 2 weeks.
Learn More →Digital Operational Resilience Act expertise. 21 years financial services. ICT risk management, incident reporting, resilience testing, third-party risk.
Learn More →Navigate EU AI Act compliance. AI risk frameworks. Algorithmic impact assessments. Prize-winning AI & cybersecurity research. AI Ethics Board design.
Learn More →Multi-cloud expertise: AWS, Azure, GCP. DevSecOps integration. Container & Kubernetes security. CCSP certified. Secure cloud migrations.
Learn More →Protect deal value. Identify hidden cyber risks before acquisition. Risk quantification. Integration roadmaps. 50+ deals assessed. Big 4 methodology.
Learn More →Whether you're between CISOs, facing a security crisis, or need strategic leadership for a critical initiative, I provide immediate executive-level security guidance with Big 4 rigour and board-ready communication.
Your CISO has departed and you need experienced leadership while recruiting. I maintain momentum and stabilize operations.
Facing a breach, regulatory investigation, or security incident? I provide calm, decisive leadership when stakes are highest.
M&A integration, cloud migration, or compliance program—I lead critical security transformations from start to finish.
Lloyd's market insurer acquiring competitor needed interim CISO leadership during integration of 15,000 employees across 3 continents.
5 days/week, fully embedded with your team
Ideal for: Leadership transitions, major incidents, M&A
2-3 days/week, strategic leadership
Ideal for: Growing companies, strategic initiatives
Monthly retainer for strategic guidance
Ideal for: Oversight, compliance, board reporting
Transform your security architecture from a cost center to a business enabler. SABSA and TOGAF certified methodologies ensure security decisions align with business objectives.
Design and implement Zero Trust frameworks using "never trust, always verify" principles. Microsegmentation, identity-centric security, and continuous verification.
High-Level and Low-Level Design documents that translate business requirements into implementable security architectures with SABSA methodology.
End-to-end security transformation programs: assessment, strategy, roadmap, implementation, and continuous improvement.
Tier 1 bank with £500B+ daily transaction volume needed comprehensive Zero Trust transformation across 200+ applications.
The Digital Operational Resilience Act is here. I help financial services firms achieve compliance efficiently, leveraging 21 years of banking sector experience and frameworks that maximize overlap with existing controls.
Comprehensive framework for identifying, protecting, detecting, responding to ICT risks.
Classification, notification, and reporting of major ICT-related incidents.
Threat-led penetration testing (TLPT) for critical functions.
ICT third-party risk management including contracts and oversight.
Cyber threat intelligence sharing arrangements.
European asset manager needed DORA compliance ahead of regulatory deadline. Previous internal efforts had stalled due to unclear requirements.
As AI regulations emerge globally, organizations need clear frameworks for responsible AI deployment. I help you build AI governance programs that enable innovation while managing risk.
Prepare for the new AI management system standard. Gap assessments, control implementation, and certification support.
Navigate the EU's comprehensive AI regulation. Risk classification, conformity assessments, and documentation requirements.
Comprehensive assessment of AI system risks: bias, security, privacy, explainability, and operational risks.
Technology company with 50+ AI/ML systems needed governance framework ahead of EU AI Act requirements.
Multi-cloud expertise across AWS, Azure, and GCP. I help you build secure cloud environments that enable agility while maintaining compliance and protecting sensitive data.
Design and implement secure cloud landing zones with proper networking, identity, and compliance controls from day one.
Embed security into CI/CD pipelines. SAST, DAST, container scanning, and infrastructure as code security.
Kubernetes and Docker security: image scanning, runtime protection, network policies, and secrets management.
Major retailer migrating to multi-cloud (AWS + Azure) while maintaining PCI DSS compliance for payment processing.
Cyber risks can destroy deal value. I provide comprehensive cyber due diligence that identifies hidden risks, quantifies exposure, and protects your investment.
Quick-turn cyber assessment for deal timelines. Identify material risks in 1-2 weeks with focused methodology.
Full cyber due diligence: security posture, compliance gaps, technical debt, incident history, and integration risks.
Translate cyber risks into financial terms for deal negotiations. Support price adjustments and escrow provisions.
PE firm acquiring B2B SaaS platform processing sensitive customer data. Required rapid assessment within deal timeline.
Deep expertise in financial services security across investment banking, asset management, insurance, and retail banking. I understand your regulators, your risks, and your business.
Trading floor security, deal room protection, market data integrity, and regulatory compliance (MiFID II, MAR).
Portfolio management security, investor data protection, fund administration controls, UCITS/AIFMD compliance.
Claims processing security, actuarial data protection, Lloyd's market requirements, Solvency II controls.
Customer data protection, payment security, PCI DSS, PSD2 Strong Customer Authentication, open banking.
Global bank with £85B daily trading volume required privileged access management transformation across trading and settlement systems.
Book a confidential call to discuss your requirements. No obligation.
Typically available to start within 2 weeks. References available upon request.
Comprehensive expertise across 15+ security domains, 150+ technologies, and 10+ certifications.
Quantified outcomes from enterprise security transformations across Fortune 500 clients and regulated industries.
Designed and delivered enterprise-wide zero trust architecture across 15,000 endpoints in 12 countries with zero production incidents.
Unified DORA and NIS2 compliance framework achieving full regulatory readiness while reducing control duplication by 75%.
CyberArk PAM implementation with SailPoint IGA integration. 10K+ privileged accounts secured with automated lifecycle management.
Consolidated security across AWS, Azure, and GCP with unified CSPM and automated compliance reporting for £85B daily transactions.
SOC leadership and operations transformation with ArcSight to Splunk migration. Automated playbooks achieving dramatic MTTD/MTTR reduction.
ISO 42001-aligned AI governance framework for responsible AI deployment. Complete inventory and risk assessment of 50+ AI systems.
Prize-winning research, strategic frameworks, and thought leadership shaping the future of AI-resilient cybersecurity.
Strategic framework achieving 75-95% control overlap between DORA and NIS2 requirements, reducing compliance effort while maximizing resilience.
Lead author of peer-reviewed research presented at national and international conferences on AI-driven security solutions.
Enterprise playbook for Zero Trust transformation covering identity, network, and data protection with real-world case studies.
Comprehensive AI risk framework aligned with emerging ISO 42001 standards for responsible AI deployment in regulated industries.
Executive framework translating technical cyber risks into financial impact language for board-level decision making.
Anonymized case study of CyberArk enterprise deployment securing privileged access for Tier 1 banking operations.
Quad-certified security professional with industry-recognized credentials (Top 2% globally). University Gold Medallist.
Credential Verification: All certifications can be independently verified through their respective issuing bodies. Contact me for verification details or Credly badge links.
Redacted examples demonstrating methodology and deliverable quality
Sample executive dashboard for board-level security reporting. Risk metrics, KPIs, and trend visualisation.
Request Sample →Outline of Zero Trust reference architecture. Microsegmentation approach, identity-centric controls.
Request Sample →Readiness assessment checklist for AI management system certification. Gap analysis framework.
Request Sample →Template for assessing DORA readiness across all 5 pillars. Control mapping to existing frameworks.
Request Sample →All samples are redacted/anonymised versions demonstrating methodology. Full working documents available under NDA for qualified engagements.
Available for contract engagements, consulting, and strategic advisory.
Whether you're facing regulatory pressure, planning a security transformation, need interim CISO leadership, or require expert witness services, I'm here to help navigate complexity and deliver results.
Book a 30-minute introductory call directly. Most clients prefer this—it's faster.
No obligation • Confidential • Usually respond same day