Hi! I’m John. I work as the CTO of a local bank. On this blog I document my thoughts on everything from my experiences at work, to my thoughts on sport.

Passwords

We all hear the news: 'don’t use simple, easily guessed or researched passwords'. But what does that mean in a business context? Well, if your senior users don’t want to type in 9r2h9u(*&*(RFU892 as a password then you’re stuffed! Every time I try and implement strong password controls I get knocked back. The simple answer? Say yes, and book your next holiday!

Automation - A Force for Good

A lot of people are scared about the potential for automation to disrupt industries and cause massive loss of low-skilled jobs. I think this view should be challenged. Previously, I have worked on replacing customer service workers with chatbots. Not only is this an economically sound decision, but it forces these customer service workers to retrain. Helping people achieve more in life can only be a good thing.

Rugby vs Football

I’ve been thinking about that old english debate: which is better, rugby or football? I believe the old adage is true.

Rugby is a thug’s game played by gentlemen.


Football is a gentleman’s game played by thugs.


Rugby fans can be trusted to sit in shared stands, football fans cannot. I’ve never met a football fan that I like to be perfectly honest.

The Digital Banking Future

Consumers are getting more savvy about their banking experience. This means even small local banks are going to have to up their game with regards to digital technologies. Apps, 24/7 support and blockchain mean fintech is an important avenue for banks to explore. Getting Chief Executive buy-in can be difficult though. Does anyone have any tips for convincing your Chief Executive that technology should be supported?

CEO on the Move

So I’m at work and its a typical day. Nothing new. But guess what... My boss decides he wants remote access. This goes against every policy we’ve ever had (that I’ve written) to ensure we remain secure. Anyway, lets just say I enjoy my bonus and skiing in France so I made it happen.
Naming convention. If you want remote access you don’t want users having to write down IP addresses and forgetting them. Also what about DHCP? If we don’t want to pay for a static address how can staff access IT remotely? We’re still handing out the IP address on a per-use basis to maintain security.
I ended up implementing a single Windows server which can be connected to via the Net. To avoid random worms, I changed the default RDP port from 3389 to 8877. Remember, if you’re going to change your ports from their defaults, you’ll need your users to ensure they’re not trying the default ports.

Fatherhood

I am lucky enough to be a new father and it is a topic I have thought about a lot in recent months. I had a poor relationship with my own dad. He had a high powered job in the pharmaceutical industry and didn’t often make time for me and my siblings. I think the most important thing for any father to be is present. You have to show up when your child needs you, even if you are a general manager or the CEO of a bank. Otherwise, what’s the point in having them? That’s why I work from home at least one afternoon a week. If the CEO can have remote access, so can I.

About Me

I am the CTO of a small local bank and am passionate about innovation. Previous pet projects have included replacing customer service staff with a chatbot. Don’t talk to me about football.

Contact

If you feel like you have something interesting to say then you can leave me a message here. I make no promises that I will ever respond or that these go anywhere but the ether.