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Increasing focus on cyber security at Securex 2015

By Write Here
Johannesburg, 10 Dec 2014

While the blue chip companies hit the headlines with breaches in their online security, this is not just an enterprise issue. Many small and medium-sized companies struggle daily to ensure their data is secure. Securex 2015 will be increasing its focus on this very pressing problem.

"A roundtable event in London, organised by Symantec, highlighted the fact that a key trend is the continued growth in attack on smaller companies, who may find it harder to recover after an attack," says Joshua Low, Securex Event Director at show organiser Specialised Exhibitions Montgomery.

While there is an assumption that you are not a target if your company is smaller, this is erroneous and can cost victims large sums of money in downtime and recovery. This is especially true if you are a supply chain for the larger companies or if you handle financial data. However, this attitude of complacency is not endemic to just the smaller companies, as the recent Global State of Information Security Survey 2015 indicates.

It states that most organisations realise that cyber security has become a persistent, all-encompassing business risk. "But as the frequency and costs of security incidents continue to rise, our survey found that many organisations have not updated critical information security processes, technologies, and employee training needs. In some cases, it appears that information security programmes have weakened due to inadequate investments in information security. At the same time, the financial costs of investigating and mitigating incidents grow year-on-year."

The survey says the total number of security incidents detected by respondents climbed to 42.8 million in 2014, an increase of 48% from 2013. Ironically, investments in information security budgets declined 4% since 2013.

"These statistics are very worrying and demand an immediate rethink from business management. It is critical for success to achieve buy-in to cyber security from the highest levels. In addition, the approach should be a multi-pronged one that includes due diligence of third-party providers, employee security awareness and training programmes, and technologies such as patch-management tools, intrusion-prevention tools, and privileged user access," Low points out.

Securex 2015, being held between 12 and 14 May at the Gallagher Convention Centre, allows end-users and installers to see live demonstrations of new and existing cyber security technology. "By bringing a number of technology specialists together under one roof, we afford visitors an exclusive opportunity to not only compare brands, but to find the best solution for their specific needs," adds Low.

"It is critical that businesses align themselves with cyber security service providers who are current on all known and potential future risks. The value is derived from suppliers who can customise solutions to fit the specific purpose and take organisational processes into consideration," he adds.

In addition to the extensive array of security technology, visitors to Securex 2015 can also look forward to a comprehensive educational programme, which hones in on pressing and pertinent industry-related and legislative issues. A new service - known as the Global Meetings Programme - will see visitors matched up with companies that are best able to devise solutions to their apparent threats and risks. "We have a number of other exciting plans in the pipeline, and we will be rolling these out over the months preceding the exhibition," Low points out.

Visitors can pre-register online by visiting www.securex.co.za.

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