IT Decisions 2010: Early Investment in IT Security Training and Technology Will Prevent System Failures and Unnecessary Costs

23rd and 24th June, Pavilion, NEC Birmingham

At IT Decisions 2010, a new major event designed to help businesses and government make important IT investment decisions, information professionals will be cautioned to take a more holistic approach to IT security, or face continuous costly pressure on resources and risk system instability. Andrea Simmons, security evangelist and Founder and Director of Simmons Professional Services, will use blunders in the public sector to illustrate the importance of embedding system security from the outset in her keynote ‘Secure Systems Development – The Emperor’s got no clothes!’ on Wednesday 23rd June.

The mantra of ‘embedding best practice from the outset’ applies to all things IT. However, the crucial aspect of security is commonly passed over at the implementation stage. This often leads to a reactive approach by organisations to introduce costly patches and fixes, offering only short-term solutions and risking system conflicts during updates. In her keynote, Simmons will explain why investment in research, training and technology at the decision-making stage can lead to fewer problems in the long-term. Simmons will also be citing real-life case studies from the public sector, where both users and the people whose data they are charged with protecting are often most vulnerable.

Putting forward the case for adopting a more holistic approach to secure systems development, Simmons explains, “There’s no getting away from it; building security in from the outset is a huge effort and being a security expert takes training, an enthusiasm for asking awkward questions and not giving up until you get an appropriate answer. IT decision makers can be swayed by shiny new technology and lots of wonderful promises, so questions with regard to the sanctity of a third party’s development processes, the safety and security of their information processing, management, policy, practices and so on, often go unasked. There are just so many elements to be factored in.”

No matter how the balance of power lies after 6th May, some public sector IT systems will certainly move forward or be written off and with this comes pressure on projects, teams and the IT decision-making process. Simmons says, “Look at the big picture of government waste on IT projects. We must understand and accept that data cleansing and data quality are elements of data integrity, which is one of the three cornerstones of information security (confidentiality, integrity and availability). If these elements are properly addressed in the beginning we wouldn’t be spending as much on public sector systems in the long term.”

Although her keynote will emphasise the significant benefits for businesses looking at implementing security into their IT systems, Simmons acknowledges that this approach won’t save businesses time and money in the short term, “It’s time for honesty and to stop taking shortcuts that risk built-in insecurities, duplication of effort, poor data quality and potentially resulting in failed systems. Delegates at IT Decisions 2010 will be encouraged to challenge suppliers when they are told that things can’t be done or aren’t possible. New wheels do not need to be built, people simply need to ensure that best practice gets embedded and the available standards are adhered to.”

Using rich educational content and a wide range of independent advisors, IT Decisions 2010 aims to provide an annual one-stop-shop designed to identify and explain the most important technologies shaping corporate and public sector IT systems – both now and in the near future. Key themes this year include cloud computing and software-as-a-service; virtualisation, storage and data centre optimisation; unified communications and VoIP; Web 2.0, collaboration and messaging; secure systems development; green IT and FastForward, an emerging technologies showcase.

Simmons’ keynote takes place at IT Decisions 2010, 23rd and 24th June at the Pavilion, NEC Birmingham. IT Decisions is free to attend to senior IT decision makers, directors and managers. Please visit the show’s website at www.itdshow.com for information on how to register and the latest show programme. Press passes are available, please contact itdecisionspr@mccint to register your interest.

Andrea Simmons is a member of BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT.

About IT Decisions

Each year, IT Decisions identifies the most significant trends currently shaping corporate and public sector IT systems – presenting independent perspectives on the latest developments and showcasing the latest innovations via a single highly time-effective event.

The tried-and-trusted combination of educational seminars, advice clinics, supplier briefings, demonstrations and informal meeting areas allows IT decision makers to gather all the information they need to shape IT strategies and investment plans on an ongoing basis.

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About Revolution Events
Revolution Events is one of the UK’s leading providers of innovative business forums, with an enviable track record in delivering high quality educational events for domestic and international markets. Since 1999, Revolution Events has organised more than 200 business events within a diverse range of markets, with particular strengths in emerging technologies, procurement & supply chain issues and new developments in the public sector.

Over the years, Revolution Events has worked with major partners such as the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (CIPS), The European Association for e-Identity and Security (eema), the Improvement & Development Agency (IDeA), PricewaterhouseCoopers, Lloyds TSB, the Office of Deputy Prime Minister (now CLG), the European Networking & Information Security Agency (ENISA), the National e-Procurement Project (NePP), Microsoft and Sage Software.

To find out more about Revolution Events please visit: www.revolution-events.com

Editorial contact
Further information, interviews, images and press passes are available from Joanna Cannon / Alex Kenchington at MCC International.

Email: itdecisionspr@mccint.com
Tel: 01962 888 100
URL: www.mccint.com

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