As part of a new interview series, Matt Hyde, Director of Recruit121 and FinTech Awards Wales, talks to a whole host of professionals in and around Wales’ thriving fintech sector.
This week Matt caught up with Matthew Turner, Head of Operations from Cyber Innovation Hub.
Why was it important for the Cyber Innovation Hub to sponsor the Cyber Security Team of the Year award at the FinTech Awards Wales?
The fintech ecosystem in Wales is growing, innovating, and taking cyber resilience seriously and that combination deserves to be celebrated. Sponsoring this award was our way of shining a light on the teams doing the hard work behind the scenes: protecting systems, protecting customers, and ultimately protecting trust. Cybersecurity doesn’t always get the spotlight, but it underpins everything in the fintech world. We wanted to acknowledge that publicly and back the people raising the bar.
In your view, what qualities or achievements distinguish an outstanding cyber security team in the fintech sector today?
The best teams pair strong technical capability with clear, confident communication. They’re building a culture where everyone understands their role in keeping systems secure. They work cross-functionally, they learn fast, and they turn threat intelligence into practical action. And perhaps most importantly, they’re humble enough to know the job is never “done”. It’s that blend of expertise, collaboration, and constant curiosity that sets them apart.
What emerging threats or trends are you seeing in 2025 that fintech companies should be preparing for now?
Three stand out. First, AI-enabled fraud, which is becoming far more convincing and far harder to detect. Second, supply-chain compromise, especially as fintechs integrate more third-party tools, plug-ins, and automation platforms. And third, the growing risk around legacy systems blending with cloud systems, which opens up new attack paths that many organisations have never rehearsed. The speed and sophistication of these attacks means response planning is just as important as prevention.
How does the Cyber Innovation Hub support Welsh fintechs and financial institutions in strengthening their cyber resilience?
We focus on giving organisations space to learn, practise, and build confidence. That means access to testbeds where teams can rehearse cyber incidents safely, not just talk about them. It means flexible, bite-sized training built around real-world scenarios. And it means connecting fintechs with academic expertise and industry partners who can help them solve the specific challenges they’re facing. Ultimately, we’re here to help companies build the capability they need inside their own teams so resilience becomes part of everyday operations.
Can you share an example of recent innovation or collaboration within the Hub that showcases the future of cyber defence?
One of the most exciting developments is the way we’re using our testbeds to bring together industry, academia, and early-stage ventures. It allows everyone involved to test assumptions, expose blind spots, and co-create new defensive approaches. That mix of practical exercising and innovation is exactly where we think the future of cyber defence sits.
What do you hope the recognition from the Fintech Awards Wales will inspire within the wider fintech and cyber security communities in Wales?
I hope it encourages more collaboration and more openness. When teams share what they’ve learned, the wins and the mistakes, everyone benefits. Awards like this help normalise that conversation and show that excellence in cyber is something to aspire to, not something to hide in the background. If it inspires even a few organisations to invest earlier, train more regularly, or reach out for support, then it’s done its job.
Fun one to finish: If cyber threats were movie villains, which one would your team be most ready to defeat, and why?
Probably the T-1000 from Terminator 2, constantly shape-shifting, relentless, and evolving faster than anyone wants. Because that’s what modern cyber threats feel like. And our whole approach at the Hub is built around preparing teams for exactly that kind of adversary: unpredictable, adaptive, and high-pressure. Luckily, unlike in the film, you don’t need molten steel, just good training, good rehearsal, and a team that knows how to act when it counts.
