Infosecurity Europe: Something for everyone

Information security is all about trust. Customers, taxpayers and citizens expect governments, companies and organisations to keep their information safe; when that trust is betrayed it can have a serious impact.

We have yet to see how the laws relating to data security are going to be amended in light of the HMRC scandal, however, it is expected there will be significant strengthening of the Data Protection and Companies Acts, resulting in a legal requirement for public disclosure of information losses, as well as criminal prosecutions for the directors, senior civil servants and politicians responsible.

With that in mind, now is the time to ensure that your organisation has implemented best practice, services and technology to secure sensitive data. Infosecurity Europe is the event where those responsible for securing their organisation's information can find all the latest technology, services and advice, with more than 300 of the top security vendors from across the globe exhibiting.

A chance to further your knowledge
The free education programme reflects the issues visitors want to hear about. Over three days, delegates will have the opportunity to listen to a range of 123 experts, including Adam Laurie, Alan Paller, Bruce Schneier and Professor Fred Piper.

Two key pieces of industry research will also be released at the show, with the launch of the 2008 Information Security Breaches Survey on behalf of the UK Government and the (ISC) Global Information Security Workforce Study.

The Interactive Theatre sessions are a new feature for 2008, enabling visitors to pit their wits against the people driving information security. Electronic voting facilities will bring you into the discussion and let you experience the pressures of a security breach as it hits an organisation. Scenarios vary from courtroom examinations of culpability and processes in a cyber attack to quizzes, malware-tracking and "ask the expert" clinics.

Fortify Software will present their new documentary, The New Face of Cybercrime. Filmed by Emmy award-nominated filmmaker Frederic Golding, it highlights the impact cybercrime has on consumers and businesses. The film will be followed by an interactive panel debate led by Professor Howard Schmidt, former cyber-security adviser to the White House.

The cyber attack special, sponsored by Symantec, will simulate a situation that could ultimately destroy a company. Ed Gibson, chief security adviser for Microsoft UK, will chair a team of experts who will review the latest threats and mitigation strategies.

Infosecurity Europe's educational programme addresses both strategic and technical issues in the market, drawing on the experience of senior end users, technical experts and real case studies. The 2008 keynote programme addresses the security issues and pressures organisations face in an increasingly mobile and global working environment.

It features leading experts sharing analysis, end-user experience, strategic advice and predictions to ensure that organisations have the information to protect their operations and information.

Find out what's new
Infosecurity Europe is the most comprehensive showcase for a diverse range of new and innovative products and services from the world's top information security experts and vendors.

The event enables company directors, security professionals, government officers and business managers to establish a justification for information security, refine their security policies and select the most appropriate solutions to support their security strategy in order to safeguard their citizens' information and their organisation's reputation and assets. More than 11,700 visitors are expected to attend this year's event.

Hall of Fame
The Infosecurity Europe programme also sees the launch of the Hall of Fame, celebrating the people the industry has voted as being the leading contributors to the advancement of information security. The history of computing and information security has attracted many brilliant minds that have dedicated their lives to its advancement.

The speakers in the Hall of Fame, as voted for by the professionals in the industry, are: Adam Laurie, director of The Bunker; Alan Paller, director of Research at the SANS Institute; Bruce Schneier, CTO of BT Counterpane; Professor Fred Piper, director of the Information Security Group, Royal Holloway and Professor Howard Schmidt, (ISC)2 Security Strategist and former White House cyber-security adviser.

Elsewhere, Chris Potter from PricewaterhouseCoopers will unveil the findings of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform's 2008 Information Security Breaches Survey, the most thorough source of information on security incidents suffered by businesses, both large and small.

The Information Commissioner, Richard Thomas, will chair the session on "Who Got Caught Out Last Year, and Why" to highlight organisations that have experienced breaches and analyse why.

Other keynote sessions include one on application security and secure coding, chaired by Mason Brown, while Alan Paller of the SANS Institute and Giles Hogben, an expert for network security policy at the European Network and Information Security Agency will lead the keynote on locking down social networking vulnerabilities.

Jon Collins, service director at Freeform Dynamics will chair a panel discussing "Which is more Important - Compliance, Security or Operability?" Another session will look at whether security is keeping pace with mobilisation and convergence, plus "2020 Vision: Security in the Future" will examine where security is today, emerging trends, and the threats and reciprocal mitigation technologies that can be expected in the not too distant future.

Where and when - Infosecurity Europe takes place at the Grand Hall, Olympia, London between 22 and 24 April 2008. Visit www.infosec.co.uk for more details.