Information Security Awareness week reaches debate climax today

Charlie McMurdie, detective superintendent, Police Central e-Crime Unit Project, Philip Virgo, secretary general, EURIM, Tony Neate, managing director, Get Safe Online and Dr David King, chair of the Information Security Awareness Forum (ISAF) will be in session. “A big problem for companies and individuals alike is the lack of awareness of information security,” says King. “It has to be a good thing for organisations to take opportunities to raise awareness amongst their constituents. “By combining efforts, the effectiveness of the delivery of messages can only increase. Information Security Awareness Week gives organisations and individuals this chance, and the Information Security Awareness Forum is pleased to behind this initiative.” This is the culmination of a series of events organised by movers and shakers in the information security world that form the Information Security Awareness Forum – aimed at improving business understanding of information security. Other events this week include ISAF’s Online conference, the Infosecurity Europe conference and exhibition with more than 300 exhibitors, publication of the BERR/PwC information security breaches survey 2008, and the launch of the ISC global information security workforce study 2008 – the latter tracking information security governance. Other key launches include: the Directors’ Guide to Managing Information Risk, sponsored by ISAF, the Information Assurance Advisory Council and BT; and the Jericho Forum Spring Conference, focusing on securing data and managing business collaboration. Says Paul Wood MBE, corporate board member of the Institute of Information Security Professionals: “Increasing the awareness of information security within society as a whole is one of our key activities and we are taking an active role in this new initiative to co-ordinate and strengthen the message to help reduce on-line risks through guidance and best practice and lead the debate into the security/privacy balance.”