Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) sites such as water supply facilities, nuclear power stations and oil refineries are the life support systems necessary for a country to function. People rely on them for clean water, reliable power and fuel. For this reason alone, they could serve as targets for terrorists seeking to disrupt vital services for thousands – if not millions – of individuals. With this in mind, Andy Gent reviews the latest thinking around CNI security

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While cyber attacks are high on the list of security threats at present, preventing unauthorised physical access to a critical infrastructure site, for example, or to critical areas within a site remains vital. Heads of security need to consider both physical and network security in tandem as they’re equally important when it comes to the protection of people and assets, asserts Ben Linklater, not to mention maintaining business continuity and resilience

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2020 WITNESSED a seismic physical, economic and cultural shift among global organisations as businesses necessarily adapted to working during a pandemic. When COVID-19 brought sweeping changes to the way in which we all operate, communicate and do business, cyber criminals were in the wings waiting to seize any opportunity they could to exploit security weaknesses for monetary and disruptive gains. Is that trend going to continue in 2021? Safi Raza offers his views on the matter.

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WHEN THE World Health Organisation declared COVID-19 a global pandemic, organisations had to adapt and change the way in which they operate – and fast. As those changes took place, cyber criminals followed suit because the modern criminal is constantly evolving in line with shifts in online behaviour and trends. With all of this in mind, Simon Eyre focuses his attentions on the trends we can expect to witness across the cyber world in 2021.

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WITH 20-PLUS years of events sector experience to date, Rachael Shattock was appointed Group event director at the Nineteen Group (with responsibility for International Security Expo, International Cyber Expo and International Disaster Response) in early 2020. Here, in conversation with Security Matters, Rachael focuses on the necessary pivot to all three events running under one banner in the online domain.

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EACH YEAR, the increasingly sophisticated criminals of the cyber world pose new and very real threats to the financial services sector, making it a prime target for cyber attacks. As Safi Raza explains, the pace of digital acceleration and the continuous development of new technologies offers a constant challenge for financial firms. It’s a challenge made even greater by the global pandemic.

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A10 NETWORKS recently launched its State of DDoS Weapons Report (Q2 2020), the contents of which is based on approximately ten million unique source addresses tracked by the company. As Ehab Halablab observes, the document sheds more light on the nature of DDoS attacks and the key trends and observations that enterprises can learn from when adopting a successful defence.

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Much like investors, systems integrators across Europe are looking to diversify their customer portfolios. The rapidly growing world of the data economy offers some great opportunities. Here, Jamie Barnfield outlines how the sector operates and why security solutions are in high demand

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MANY BUSINESSES have been able to make the transition from on-site to remote working, but the time will come when the focus is back on the office environment. Alistair Enser outlines why security companies need to help their customers address the changes in their risk profiles and assist them to navigate the potential shift from cyber security threats to civil disturbance, for example, and from commercial theft to on-premises abuse or even violence.

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PARTICIPATING IN a mentoring relationship can be greatly beneficial for an individual’s professional development, whether that be as a mentor or mentee. There’s a good deal to be gained from having a trusted mentor at all stages of the professional journey. Equally so, mentors can also grow and learn through a mentoring relationship. Here, in this exclusive thought leadership article for Security Matters, Angela Vernon-Lawson examines her own mentoring journey involving The Security Institute.

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THE BRITISH Security Industry Association has been working tirelessly behind the scenes in a determined bid to underpin and embolden the private security industry in its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Among other things, that work has involved lobbying Government in a bid to see security personnel recognised for what they are (and always have been): key workers. Mike Reddington offers a progress update.

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IT HAS been a long-accepted belief that the true strength of an organisation can only genuinely be determined when it faces a real test. The social and economic challenges presented by COVID-19 make it arguably the sternest test that many individuals, businesses and organisations have ever faced. How has the Financial Conduct Authority dealt with the pandemic? Syedur Rahman offers his views.

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BARELY ANY day goes by without Artificial Intelligence (AI) and video surveillance being front and centre in the public spotlight due to concerns about ethics and privacy. Even more so now given the rapid development of highly beneficial applications designed for safety in light of COVID-19. Pauline Norstrom explains why it has never been more important for stakeholders to remain properly informed about this ever-evolving set of technologies.

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OVER THE past few years, the cyber criminal underground has gradually undergone its own industrial revolution as modernisation, innovation and digitalisation processes have taken hold. How are today's businesses fighting back? Liv Rowley focuses on threat intelligence and partnerships.

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MUCH HAS been written about the current increase in home working as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. While remote working simply isn't an option for many companies and their myriad employees, for others business is at least continuing even though it's not a case of 'business as usual'. Here, Mike Hurst examines the impact of home working on the security profession.

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WITH COVID-19 seemingly bringing the world to a halt and more than 50% of the globe’s population engaging in some form of lockdown, cyber criminals have viewed the pandemic as a golden opportunity. Why and how are they seeking to exploit COVID-19, and in what ways can organisations look to defend themselves? Safi Raza offers his views.

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THE GOVERNMENT has indicated that it's coming out fighting in terms of tackling those who see COVID-19 as an opportunity for cyber crime. Both the UK and the US have warned of malicious cyber activity by other states against those organisations involved in the Coronavirus response, write Syedur Rahman and Josie Welland.

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DATA PROTECTION regulations are clear and have been for some time now, so why is it the case that organisations are still tripping up? Mark Harper investigates how a lack of company culture may be affecting their approach towards the key topic of data protection.

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DESPITE THE rising prevalence of data breaches, awareness of the needs of tighter security when installing and using a video management system is yet to catch up. Complacency is the enemy, suggests Neil Killick, with even the most basic of security errors potentially placing such systems at risk.

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CYBER SECURITY breaches make the news headlines on an almost daily basis now, with organisations of all kinds considered to be potential targets for the hackers. In an exclusive article for Security Matters, Andy Schofield explains why, in the ongoing battle against the cyber criminals, it's continually vital to ensure that security systems are not vulnerable to attack.

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