Ian Ashworth
Ian Ashworth is a Security Operations Lead at Fortra, bringing a wealth of experience from both the cybersecurity and military domains. He joined Fortra in 2018 after completing a 24-year career in the British Army, where he held a variety of roles spanning infantry, assault pioneer, and technical store management. During his later years of service, Ian transitioned into telecommunications engineering with a focus on fibre optics and Ethernet installations, earning multiple CompTIA certifications in preparation for his move into cybersecurity.
At Fortra, Ian serves as a technical team lead within the Threat Security Experts (TSX) team. His primary focus areas include incident management, process improvement, and the development of threat hunting capabilities. As a key stakeholder in Fortra’s threat hunting initiatives, Ian is passionate about providing his team with the tools, training, and confidence needed to excel. He is also deeply committed to mentorship and career development, acting as both a guide and a sounding board for his peers.
Since joining, Ian has progressed through multiple roles—beginning as a Level 1 Analyst in the Log Review team, advancing to Level 2, and later joining the Active Watch team (now part of TSX), before earning promotion to his current leadership position.
Ian holds certifications including CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+, CySA+, and Pentest+, along with a City & Guilds Level 2 qualification in Fibre Optic and Copper Cable Environments. Beyond his formal qualifications, he actively hones his skills through practical platforms such as TryHackMe, where he currently ranks within the top 1% of global users.
A firm believer in lifelong learning and knowledge sharing, Ian’s professional philosophy centres on collaboration and personal growth. He advocates that “you can learn from anyone—from the newest recruit to the most experienced leader,” and that sharing knowledge benefits not only the team but also Fortra’s customers and the wider cybersecurity community.
