NCRCG CyberVersed Podcast: Episode 42 - National Ambassador Focus - Mastercard
- emilybevan6
- Aug 8
- 3 min read
The National Cyber Resilience Centre Group have just released episode 42 of their podcast, 'CyberVersed, speaking to National Ambassador's 'Mastercard'.

In episode 42, Mandy Haeburn-Little is joined by Gordon Adam, Manager, Cyber Threat Intelligence Partnerships at Mastercard.
Gordon begins by explaining his role and how his department serves as the first port of call for incidents of cybercrime or fraud. He describes how they operate proactively by analysing the threat landscape and reactively responding to incidents and emerging threats.
Mandy is also keen to understand why Mastercard has earned a reputation for being approachable, particularly for SMEs. Gordon then highlights how 'doing the right thing' is a fundamental part of the company's culture; they are keen to make business owners feel secure, and that's why they provide resources such as the GCA Toolkit and Mastercard Trust Centre. For Mastercard, it's about sharing their wealth of knowledge, especially with the SME community. He also explains how they invest time and effort in creating the right messaging when it comes to cyber; Mastercard break it down to make it interesting and simple for those not familiar with cyber. Fundamentally, they are keen to promote the idea that every step an SME takes will improve its resilience.
Gordon also outlines some of the red flags that SMEs should look for, such as unexpected logins, suspicious emails, and tech update prompts. His advice is to start with employee training to build an understanding of the threats and how to prepare for them.
The two discuss why it's essential that businesses feel safe when adopting new technology; otherwise, it can stifle innovation and growth. It is in everyone's interest that businesses thrive, so by providing free support and guidance, Mastercard is helping them become more resilient and confident when adopting an inclusive attitude to new technology.
Gordon offers advice on where to start, reiterating that it's about the basics, including visiting the Mastercard Trust Centre, exploring the GCA Toolkit, and the Cyber Readiness Programme. He also emphasises it's all about preparedness and recommends the GCA Toolkit as an accessible and free resource with actionable guidance to reduce cyber risk.
In conclusion, Mandy asks Gordon how he feels about the industry, to which he responds that it is worse in terms of the volume of attacks. However, he also points out that we are much better prepared than we were in the past. The knowledge of how to mitigate and respond, as well as our capabilities in defence, is significantly greater than it was a few years ago.
His final comments are sound advice, stating that preparation is the best defence. Take the time now to accept advice and have a response in mind, rather than panicking when something goes wrong.
To find out more about Mastercard, visit their website here.
If you would like to listen to the podcast, you can find this episode below, or listen via the NCRCG website.
Reporting a live cyber-attack 24/7:
If you are a business, charity or other organisation which is currently suffering a live cyber-attack (in progress) please call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 immediately. This service is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
Reporting a cyber-attack which isn’t ongoing:
Please report online to Action Fraud, the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime. You can report cybercrime online at any time using the online reporting tool, which will guide you through simple questions to identify what has happened. Action Fraud advisors can also provide the help, support, and advice you need.
Alternatively, you can call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 (textphone 0300 123 2050).

Comments