The annual festival dedicated to promoting online security kicked off on Monday with over 130 online events designed to spread awareness and knowledge of cybersecurity.
CyberScotland Week comes as risks from malicious online crime has risen starkly during Covid-19 as more and more organisations and individuals work remotely.
According to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), a public-facing division of Britain’s famous listening post GCHQ, the agency has defended the UK from more than 700 cyber-attacks in the past year, of which a quarter were Covid related.
With 134 virtual events taking place across five days CyberScotland Week, which is in its third year, has doubled in size from last year’s programme and brings a host of world-renowned cyber experts will take to the virtual stage.
They will provide valuable insights across topics such as cyber protection, innovation and skills and careers, with events targeting a range of audiences from business to third sector and school pupils.
The sessions delivered by partners across industry, business, education and the third and public sectors aim to help make Scotland a more secure and resilient place to live and work.
John Swinney, Deputy First Minister of Scotland, said: “The cyber security industry is an important contributor to our economic growth and CyberScotland Week is the perfect opportunity to showcase the innovative and exciting work that is happening across the sector.”
Ciara Mitchell, Head of Cyber at ScotlandIS, added: “We have been working hard behind the scenes to put together a fantastic online programme packed with celebrated speakers and relevant topics which will inspire and ultimately, help make Scotland safer online. Surpassing 130 events is an incredible achievement and shows the level of interest and expertise in cyber in Scotland and further highlights just how important cyber resilience is for individuals as well as organisations of all types.”
LeadScotland, Barclays, Forensic Analytics and Highlands & Islands Enterprise, are just some of the organisations taking part to share their expertise this year. The sessions include:
- Online scams: how to spot them and what to do
- How to successfully embed Cyber Security into your organisation’s culture
- Your digital footprint: what does the internet know about you?
- Remote auditing: do’s and don’ts
Keynote speakers at FutureScot’s Public Sector Cyber Resilience conference on Tuesday include Ciaran Martin, former CEO at the National Cyber Security Centre; Carol Peters, Cyber Security Architect at Renfrewshire Council; and Malcolm Graham, Deputy Chief Constable, Crime & Operational Support at Police Scotland.
Related posts
Interviews
Comment
Please mind the gap… or healthcare may fall
Imagine sharing a lengthy train journey with others. From beginning to end, imagine how often you might hear ‘mind the gap’ messages about embarking and disembarking safely. Picture how navigating…
Women Lead: My journey from Dragons’ Den to Silicon Valley
Following her appearance on Dragons’ Den, Sheila Hogan, serial entrepreneur, founder and chief executive of digital legacy vault, Biscuit Tin, shares her experience of her time in the Den and…
Look anywhere – the future is ‘aged tech’. But Scotland needs to be more adventurous
Scottish Care, as the representative body of independent social care providers of care home, care at home and housing support services, has been working over several years with colleagues in…
Women Lead: Engineer turned entrepreneur
We are always fascinated by other people’s stories. It’s how we connect, grow and learn from each other. Until very recently I always felt like I didn’t have a story to tell. Who…
‘Women – together we will change the dynamic in tech’
I was inspired to start a career in technology when personal computers were in their infancy and the internet decades away. My childhood dream of becoming a scientist was shaped by…
It’s time to change the future of tech apprenticeships – and we need your help
In his latest exclusive column for Futurescot, Ross Tuffee, chair of the Skills Development Scotland (SDS) Digital Economy Skills Group, calls on tech employers to get involved in shaping the…
What AI difference a year makes
Amazingly, it’s been one year since the publication of Scotland’s AI Strategy. And what a year it has been. Demanding but rewarding, with good progress made and great foundations laid…
International Women’s Day: It’s time to harness power of women in technology
As we celebrate International Women’s Day, I hope to be part of a future where barriers that prevent women from competing on a level playing field in the work environment…