Crypto.com's CISO clinches Executive of the Year in Cybersecurity category

Jason W.K. Lau was able to build customer trust with cybersecurity and privacy.

Research has shown that TRUST is the new key driver where cybersecurity and data privacy can be used to help accelerate the broader adoption of fintech -- In other words, building trust with the customer. These are the words of Jason Lau, an established global thought leader and authority in the field of cybersecurity and data privacy.

Jason is a multiple award-winning cybersecurity and data privacy professional with over 20 years experience and is currently the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at Crypto.com. His role as the CISO of Crypto.com is to drive the global cybersecurity and privacy strategy with the goal of supporting the business’ mission of global adoption of cryptocurrency.

In addition to his strategic role at Crypto.com, Jason also plays an active role in the regional ecosystem, and was awarded as the Hong Kong Business Magazine - Executive of the Year in the Cybersecurity category at the recently concluded HKB Management Excellence Awards 2020. Now in its third year, the awards event lauds trailblazing individuals and teams whose initiatives have brought tangible business gains for their company's operations and broader commitment to industry.

This is evident in most recent initiatives, where Crypto.com was independently assessed against the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, and NIST Privacy Framework which were used to strengthen cybersecurity and privacy protection through enterprise risk management.

“The NIST Cybersecurity and Privacy Framework audits add to our existing ISO 27001, ISO 27701 and PCI:DSS certifications and demonstrate our commitment to our company-wide cybersecurity and privacy strategy,” said Jason.

“With the NIST 'Adaptive' achievement - which is the highest tier, it examines our maturity and ability of the organization to adapt to the ever-changing cybersecurity and privacy landscape. This complements our ISO certifications which is an assessment of our policies, procedures and controls in place - we are once again the first FinTech company to achieve some of the industry's highest security and privacy standards,” he added.

Upon the successful completion of the cybersecurity projects, Jason and Crypto.com already saw positive changes in their operations. They were able to build trust by supporting decision-making in product and service design through “Security and Privacy by Design; By Default”, and deployment that optimises beneficial uses of data while minimizing adverse consequences for individuals’ privacy and society as a whole.

Jason’s contributions to industry stand out from the crowd. Jason is an adjunct professor of cybersecurity and data privacy at Hong Kong Baptist University School of Business, Master of Science (FinTech and Data Analytics), which is one of Asia’s top programmes.

In addition to this, Jason is also an official member of the Standing Committee for the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, Hong Kong (PCPD), regional lead and co-chair for the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP), as well as being on multiple industry Advisory Boards and Committees in the Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area, like Tencent’s Finance Academy and HK Cyberport’s Entrepreneurship Committee. Internationally, Jason is also an official member of the Forbes Technology Council and active on several Global Cybersecurity and Privacy Think Tanks.

This further reinforces his feat as the winner of HKB Management Excellence Awards Executive of the Year in the Cybersecurity category. Jason vows to continue advocating for cybersecurity and privacy awareness training and the importance of this in FinTech and beyond. He also aims to nurture future talent so that the next generation of entrepreneurs can learn and better position themselves and their companies for the new digital economy and risks of new trends like big data and artificial intelligence.