One of the most discussed subjects in the security sector just now is the future of regulation. The ‘phased transition to a new regulatory regime’ is already well underway following the Home Office’s announcement regarding the Security Industry Authority (SIA), but what happens next?
Some clues were given at the recent SIA Stakeholder Conference in central London, where both Baroness Ruth Henig – the Regulator’s chairman – and CEO Bill Butler outlined the ‘State of the Nation’.
Since then, the CEO has added another entry to his ongoing blog concerning what the future landscape for licensing and regulation might look like.
A consultation period reviewing the Approved Contractor Scheme has just closed, there’s a new enforcement page on the Regulator’s website and, at the tail end of April, a new Update focused on the aforementioned conference.
The Big Degate: Regulation of the industry in a post-SIA world
The very latest thinking, though, will be imparted at IFSEC 2011. On Monday 16 May from 9.00 am, I’ll be hosting ‘The Big Debate: Regulation of the industry in a post-SIA world’.
On the panel with me will be the SIA’s own Stephen McCormick (the Regulator’s director of service delivery who spoke at conference on the blueprint for the future as presented to the Government).
McCormick is joined by absolutely key figures in terms of The Way Forward: James Kelly (CEO at the BSIA and chairman of The Security Alliance), Mike Bluestone (chairman of The Security Institute) and Patrick Toyne-Sewell, corporate affairs director at guarding and security solutions giant G4S.
This is a perfect opportunity for you to come along and air your views on what you think the future of private sector regulation should look like.
What can – or indeed will – replace the SIA as it stands at present? Is the industry now in a position to police itself?
If we were to look at how other nations regulate their own security industries, what does Best Practice look like overseas and are there any elements we should be adopting?
Corporate crime… and how to avoid it
At 9.40 am, I’ll then be presiding over a discussion focused on corporate crime and how businesses can avoid it.
The speaker for this IFSEC 2011 Conference session will be familiar to many of you…
Chris Brogan has been a corporate investigator for over 30 years. Already armed with a law degree, he later went on to study for a Masters at Leeds Business School and then a Masters In Law at Northumbria University.
In addition, Chris regularly advises multinational corporations, Government bodies and law enforcement agencies around the world on the impact the security function has in relation to the European privacy laws.
He’s a Fellow of The Security Institute, a member of the Association of Advanced Legal Studies, the Fraud Advisory Panel and the International Bar Association and is a former chairman of the Council of International Investigators.
Chris is a visiting lecturer at a number of universities on topics including risk management, open source information, fraud, corporate investigations and general business intelligence.
What strategies can be employed to protect the organisation?
Chris Brogan’s Keynote session will focus on a number of areas, including:
- why corporate crime increases during tough economic times, and what strategies are needed to effectively protect the organisation
- why auditors sometimes fail to detect white collar crime
- things not to do when you suspect fraud in your company
- why do many companies wrongfully assume they’re protected when, in fact, they are not?
Chris will also consider some real life examples illustrating significant losses, and why these crimes were not uncovered until it was too late.
Make sure you’re at the NEC to hear what Chris has to say. You never know… His words of wisdom might just save your organisation from serious harm and reputational damage.
Cyber terrorism: the latest trends
Cyber terrorism is one of the hottest topics in the security world. Indeed, many recent moves by the Government, the police and various industry bodies have been open in focusing on this key topic.
A new report just released by independent information security body the Information Security Forum (ISF) identifies five major trends that will shape the information security threats faced by organisations in 2013 and beyond.
The Threat Horizon 2013 document is intended to provide organisations with a structure around which they can conduct the strategic planning needed to deal with these emerging threats.
The report draws on insights from the ISF’s global membership. The five key trends it identifies, along with the challenges for organisations, are:
- cyber (in-)security
Governments will soon take a more proactive role in cyberspace. While many of the initiatives will be beneficial, organisations need to take account of legislation and regulation that mandates procedures and behaviours in cyberspace – much of which may be disjointed – along with an increase in cyber-defence activities. How will organisations cope?
- an open knowledge society
Here, participation and innovation thrive, but organisations are left struggling to strike a balance between transparency and confidentiality. What will organisations’ trust models look like by 2013? How will they promote transparency without losing valuable information to the public domain?
- The Internet: a flat Earth?
A host of new entrants, many from the developing world, will potentially increase instability. How will business models adapt to these new mass markets? How will organisations prepare to deal with those who exploit this as a cybercrime opportunity?
- smart enterprises
The need to boost efficiency and optimise the use of assets will continue driving organisations to greater use of cloud computing, smart sourcing and smart technologies. How will organisations make best use of these without increasing complexity and cost downstream?
- consumerisation
The rise of very capable consumer devices, such as smartphones and tablet computers, has added further impetus to the need to manage the use of such technology at work. Adopting a stance that completely prohibits such an approach is unlikely to be successful. How can organisations manage the risks and lock in the benefits?
Our speaker for this element of the IFSEC 2011 Conference Keynote modules will be Ed Gibson, the director of forensic technology solutions with PwC (and formerly career FBI special agent and chief cyber security advisor to Microsoft in the UK). In his talk, he’ll consider and identify:
- what is cyber terrorism, and to what extent are you vulnerable?
- the weak links in your company networks and infrastructure
- methods for combating cyber terrorism: what can you do in practice to protect your organisation?
Book your place for the Keynote sessions
Securing your place for the Keynote sessions at the IFSEC 2011 Conference on Monday 16 May couldn’t be easier.
There are still places available and, as a special Thank You to the readers of I4S/SMT Online for their ongoing and much valued support, we’re offering you a 10% discount on these sessions.
All you need to do when booking (either over the telephone or on the Internet) is quote reference SPK and our Conference Team will do the rest.
To book, call 020 7921 8658, send an e-mail to: ifsec@ubm.com or access the dedicated web link provided on the right hand panel of this page