As an Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Gold Award holder, Arcanum have demonstrated outstanding support for those who serve and have served. A large proportion of our company have served in the Armed Forces or are still serving as part of the UK Reserves. On Armed Forces Day 2025, we asked Matthew Pemble about his experience in the Armed Forces both as a Regular and a serving Reservist. Matthew is our Lead Security Architect and a Chartered Cyber Security Professional in Secure System Architecture & Design.
What does Armed Forces Day mean to you?
It’s both a day of national recognition for current serving members of the Armed Forces and a way for us to show off nationally, what the Armed Forces can, and do do. It’s also about what the Armed Forces bring to society more widely than defence.
Can you share a bit about your background in the Armed Forces and what you do now as a reservist?
Initially a cadet piper in the Black Watch from age 11, I joined the Royal Navy in 1986 and served in both the tanker war and the first Iraq war before moving to submarines. Shortly after leaving the Royal Navy, I joined the British military’s first reserve cyber unit, LIAG, in which I have served as a penetration tester and cyber security specialist for over 20 years. I have taken part in operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo and Montenegro as well as conducting systems and organisational security testing and filling staff and training roles in the UK and overseas. I am currently serving in the British Loan Service to the Sultan of Oman’s Armed Forces as the Cyber lead.
What motivated you to continue your service as a reservist while pursuing a civilian career?
After my first civilian employer had an article about security testing featured in the trade press, I was specifically sought out to join the recently formed LIAG as its first qualified penetration tester. Since then, the ability to mix my increasingly managerial responsibilities as my civilian career progressed with an enduring requirement to maintain a considerable degree of technical skills for my military duties has ensured that I keep up a broad skill set which supports both roles.
How does reserve service help your civilian career?
As a reservist in a specialist occupation and having also done over 10 years full time service, it really is the other way around. I have my reservist role because of my civilian occupation and qualifications. I do occasionally get relevant training from the reserves which has application in my civilian capacity.
What does your reserve service offer your employer?
I get experience within aspects of cyber outside of my main civilian roles, which can help when Arcanum are looking to provide new services within the marketplace. Also, as the UK MOD is one of Arcanum’s largest clients, my reserve experience with problems and issues that the MOD has experienced, particularly in operational conditions, can help with delivery of our support to the MOD.
Our team of highly experienced consultants have ex-military or government service experience, high level security clearances, and hold the latest industry certifications. We have consultants who were among the first in the country to be registered as Chartered, Principal and Associate practitioners with the UK Cyber Security Council. Many are Armed Forces Reservists, using their cyber-security skills and expertise on operational tasking to help protect the UK. They employ the same highly developed principles and commitment to deliver timely, high-quality work and advice to our clients.
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