Cyber security leadership in the UK has shifted from being a technical concern to a leadership responsibility. Over the past year, cyber incidents have moved into the public spotlight, forcing directors, trustees, and senior leaders to take ownership of how risk is understood and managed.
That context makes Bondgate IT’s recognition as Marketing Campaign of the Year, awarded by SuperOps, about far more than marketing. It reflects the role Bondgate IT, NEBRC Cyber Expert Garry Brown, and the wider team are playing in moving the UK cyber security conversation forward through education, responsibility, and community leadership.
Cyber security leadership in the UK is changing
The catalyst for the campaign was the BBC documentary Cyber Siege: From Russia to Redcar.
This documentary examined the £10 million ransomware attack on Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council. Garry Brown was invited by the BBC to contribute expert insight, helping viewers understand what actually happened, why these attacks are becoming so common, and what lessons leaders should take from them.
The documentary brought cyber security into living rooms across the country. For Bondgate IT, it raised an important question.
What happens next?
Rather than allowing the story to fade, the team made a deliberate decision to use the attention responsibly. The aim was not to capitalise on fear or headlines, but to help organisations understand that cyber security is no longer an IT problem to be delegated.
It is a leadership issue that affects people, services, jobs, and communities.
From BBC coverage to UK cyber security leadership in action
Following the BBC One broadcast, Bondgate IT continued the conversation through BBC Look North, BBC Radio Tees, national and regional press, business publications, and industry platforms.
Each appearance reinforced the same message.
Cyber resilience is built through governance, culture, and informed decision making, not panic buying tools after an incident.
Alongside media activity, Bondgate IT published plain-English blogs, short videos, and educational resources that broke down complex topics into guidance leaders could act on. The content focused on real risks, real responsibilities, and realistic steps organisations could take to improve their position.
This approach resonated because it respected the audience. It assumed leaders wanted to do the right thing when given the right information.
Why cyber security leadership in the UK starts with education
This was never a sales-first campaign. In fact, sales language was deliberately stripped back.
The goal was to teach, not pitch.
The result was Bondgate IT’s highest engagement to date. Over 22,000 organic impressions were recorded on LinkedIn, with website engagement increasing significantly as readers explored content around data protection, continuity planning, and compliance.
More importantly, the quality of conversations changed.
Organisations began reaching out before incidents occurred. Councils, charities, manufacturers, and regulated businesses asked for guidance on frameworks such as ISO 27001, Cyber Essentials, JOSCAR, and EASA Part-IS.
The discussion moved into boardrooms, risk registers, and leadership meetings.
Bondgate IT was no longer being asked only how to support IT. It was being asked how to support governance.
Community-led cyber security leadership across the UK
A defining feature of the campaign was collaboration. Bondgate IT worked closely with organisations such as the North East Business Resilience Centre, CyberNorth, GTIA, and MSP peer communities to educate.
This collective approach reflected Bondgate IT’s values. Cyber security is not competitive when it comes to protecting people and services.
It is a shared responsibility.
The campaign reinforced the role of Garry Brown not only as Managing Director of Bondgate IT, but as a trusted cyber voice through his work with NEBRC.
It also highlighted the contribution of the wider Bondgate IT team, led operationally and strategically by Damien Harrison, Operations and Marketing Director, who ensured the message stayed consistent, clear, and responsible throughout.
What this award means for cyber security leadership in the UK
The judging panel behind this award included senior MSP leaders, marketing strategists, growth experts, and channel specialists from across the industry. These are people who understand what good MSP marketing looks like because they see it every day.
Their recognition confirms that the campaign succeeded because it focused on leadership, education, and trust.
This award is not about creative flair or clever wording. It is about using a moment of national attention to help organisations think differently about cyber risk. It shows that marketing, when done with purpose, can raise standards and change behaviour.
For Bondgate IT, this recognition belongs to the whole team and the communities they serve. It reinforces a simple belief.
Cyber security moves forward when the conversation does.
And that is what this campaign set out to achieve.