Resilient. Curious. Solutions focused.
At Kryterion, security isn’t just a buzzword—it’s the foundation of everything we build. This month, we’re thrilled to spotlight James Barker, a DevSecOps Engineer whose approach to protecting and optimizing our global infrastructure is backed by a professional background unlike any other on the team.
From the Streets of London to the Cloud
James’s path to cloud engineering was anything but traditional. Before diving into the world of automation and infrastructure, he spent 13 years as a Police Officer in London, working on Organized Crime and Counter-Terrorism operations.
While moving from the Metropolitan Police to DevSecOps might seem like a leap, James sees it as a natural evolution. “Whether you’re managing an operational leadership team in the field or a global cloud environment, the core principles are the same,” James explains. “It’s all about high-stakes decision-making, risk management, and platform resilience. Transitioning into tech allowed me to apply those same high-pressure skills to helping Kryterion scale safely.”
Optimizing the Engine Room
Since joining the team, James has been a driving force behind optimizing our cloud infrastructure. One of his standout projects involved a major overhaul of Kryterion’s global environments to improve efficiency without sacrificing the high availability that our clients depend on.
“By focusing on rightsizing strategies and better automation, we were able to reduce operational overhead and deliver meaningful cost savings,” says James. “But the real win was giving our engineering teams more reliable, scalable environments to build on.”
The Balance of Speed and Stability
In the fast-moving world of software delivery, there is often a tug-of-war between moving fast and staying secure. James’s philosophy? Invest in the guardrails early.
“I’ve learned that taking the time to build clear operational standards and automation prevents massive headaches down the road,” he says. “My goal is to build solutions that allow our teams to move at lightning speed without increasing the risk to the platform.”
Advice for the New Crew
For those just starting their journey at Kryterion, James recommends looking at the “Big Picture.”
“Don’t just focus on your day-to-day tasks,” he advises. “Take the time to understand how the different systems connect across the wider platform. The more visibility you have across teams like QA and Operations, the easier it becomes to make contributions that actually move the needle.”
Outside of Work
When he isn’t securing the cloud, James is likely in the kitchen or tinkering with “small” tech projects that, admittedly, often turn into much larger experiments than planned.
If he could have dinner with anyone, he’d choose comedian Ricky Gervais. “I love his humor and how he challenges conventional thinking,” James shares. “Though, I’d probably spend the whole dinner just hoping I didn’t say something that ended up in his next stand-up special!”
James also has his sights set on a major change of scenery. Currently based in England, he dreams of trading the constant British rain for the sunny shores of Australia. “The beaches, the outdoor lifestyle, and seeing kangaroos in the wild make it an easy choice,” he says. “Plus, the warmer weather definitely wouldn’t hurt!”
Read More Employee Spotlights
Meet more of the amazing people behind Kryterion:
- Employee Spotlight: Jesse Wolf, Associate Customer Success Manager
- Employee Spotlight: Noura Essa, Talent Acquisition Specialist
About Kryterion
Kryterion Inc. is a global leader in innovative testing and credentialing solutions, helping organizations across various sectors develop and manage their assessments with our advanced test development platform and multi-modal delivery solutions.