Source URL: https://www.theregister.com/2024/11/14/senior_tech_departure_asda/
Source: The Register
Title: Asda security chief replaced, retailer sheds jobs during Walmart tech divorce
Feedly Summary: British grocer’s workers called back to office as clock ticks for contractors
The head of tech security at Asda, the UK’s third-largest food retailer, has left amid an ongoing tech divorce from US grocery giant Walmart.…
AI Summary and Description: Yes
Summary: The text details the departure of Simon Langley, Asda’s chief information security officer (CISO), amid significant IT transitions due to the company’s separation from Walmart. The ongoing restructuring includes moving to a new cloud-hosted ERP system and navigating significant redundancies and changes to work-from-home policies.
Detailed Description: The text highlights key developments at Asda, which are of particular relevance to professionals in security, cloud computing, and infrastructure security.
– **Leadership Change**:
– Simon Langley, the CISO at Asda since December 2021, is leaving his position, indicating potential shifts in security strategy during a critical period of transformation.
– Mike Amos is expected to replace him, which could bring new perspectives to the existing IT security framework.
– **IT Separation from Walmart**:
– Following Walmart’s sale of Asda in 2021, a comprehensive separation project known as Project Future was initiated, with a projected budget that ballooned from £189 million to £430 million due to complexities.
– The transition includes migrating IT systems to S/4HANA hosted on Microsoft Azure, showcasing a shift towards cloud computing and potential implications for data security.
– **Operational Changes**:
– Asda has been gradually transitioning away from Walmart technologies, indicating critical infrastructure changes and enhancing autonomy over their IT systems.
– The company is phasing out Walmart’s network infrastructure, hinting at potential vulnerabilities during a transitional period.
– **Staff Reductions and Restrictions**:
– The text references 475 redundancies at support offices and the exit of fixed-term IT contractors, reflecting the organizational impact of this IT transition.
– Increased security measures have been instituted for IT contractors, mandating them to be accompanied by Asda personnel and implementing stringent access controls—elements important for maintaining security during restructuring.
– **Remote Work Policies**:
– Asda is revising remote working arrangements, now requiring staff to be present in offices three days a week. This could be a response to security concerns or to foster collaboration in times of significant change.
– **Future Plans**:
– The anticipated completion of infrastructure transitions highlights ongoing strategic shifts that will have long-term implications for security posture and operational proficiency within Asda.
Overall, this situation presents case study material for security and compliance professionals as they analyze organizational responses to leadership change, enterprise restructuring, and the move towards cloud and digital transformation amidst regulatory and security constraints.