LCL Data Centers strengthens its expertise with the arrival of Cyber Security Expert Géraud de Neve. His mission: ensure compliance, sharpen processes, and make cybersecurity part of every daily decision. With more than 25 years of telecom and IT security experience, Géraud combines technical depth with a methodical approach to cybersecurity.
Can you tell us what your role as LCL’s Cyber Security Expert entails?
Géraud de Neve: “My responsibility is to make sure LCL meets all relevant cyber security standards, such as ISO, DORA, PCI DSS, and NIS2. But compliance alone is not enough. The real challenge is translating guidelines into daily practice. Consider a firewall for example. You can say it blocks the bad traffic, but that will only work if you maintain it, update it, and more importantly monitor the traffic. My role is to ensure that relevant protections are not only in place, but also effective in real-world scenarios. Additionally, I help rework processes so that security is embedded everywhere and I would lead incident response if anything happens.”
What key experiences do you bring to your new role?
“I spent over 25 years in the telecom sector, where uptime is non-negotiable. You don’t tell customers they cannot call between three and six in the morning. The network has to be there, always. That mindset of continuity and resilience still shapes my work today. The last 4 years, I worked in a security role at a leading telecom company. I was responsible for protecting highly sensitive systems and for embedding security checks in every project. That combination of technical and human focus is also what I bring to LCL today.”
Cybersecurity, simplified: how would you explain it?
“If I were to use a metaphor, I would use the image of a castle. You can have thick external walls to protect the castle, but there still needs to be a door to let people in and out. That is your firewall. Inside then, there are rooms with doors that should be closed and locked. Not everyone needs access everywhere. Even within rooms, valuables should be in locked cabinets. And those locks should be more secure than a numbered code of 1234. Finally, you need to know who went where and when. That is cybersecurity: layered, controlled, and monitored.
It may sound simple, but in reality, it’s a complex matter. At LCL, we protect five interconnected sites, each with multiple internet entry points and critical applications spread across the network. That makes it a really big castle with numerous doors, rooms, and locked cabinets.”
Are people really the weakest link in cybersecurity?
“I would say so, yes, but that also means they can be the strongest link. Most incidents worldwide involve legitimate accounts that have been misused. Phishing, social engineering, deepfakes: these target people, not machines. Technology to spot anomalies is essential, but it cannot replace awareness. People need the courage to say no when something feels wrong. That’s why we regularly train colleagues and send simulated phishing emails. This way, everyone learns to recognise suspicious behaviour in a safe setting, and we can keep improving our collective resilience.”
How does LCL’s cybersecurity strategy benefit their customers?
“At LCL, we provide a secure environment for our customers’ servers, we do not provide direct cybersecurity services. We ensure that all systems supporting our data center infrastructure, such as power, cooling, websites and security monitoring, are protected by multiple layers of physical and digital defence. The key is to keep it practical, understand your risk levels, and manage them responsibly. We do that by combining strong systems with a with a security culture where there is no room for compromise. Customers can trust our layered security approach and audited certifications that prove our reliability and protection.”
With Géraud de Neve on board, LCL reinforces its cybersecurity strategy. His new role strengthens compliance, improves processes, and ensures customers can always rely on a safe and trusted environment.
Explore LCL’s security certifications and learn how we uphold the highest standards of protection.
