Monday 23 July 2012

GCHQ and government call for more cybercrime training


The government wants to see more universities offer post-graduate training in world-class cybersecurity as part of its National Cyber Security Programme. As part of the initiative, several government bodies, including GCHQ in Cheltenham, have grouped together to encourage universities to apply for funding. As discussed in this month’s Computer Weekly magazine, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) hope eventually to establish two dedicated centres for Doctoral Training. In April this year some universities already achieved “Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research” status in the initial stages of the programme. "If the UK is to…maintain its reputation for world-class capability in cybersecurity, it is vital that we look to discover, develop and nurture the UK’s next generation of doctoral-level cybersecurity experts," said David Willetts, minister for universities and skills. For more on the future of cybersecurity training read the full article at http://www.computerweekly.com/news/2240159950/Universities-invited-to-train-cyber-spooks

Monday 9 July 2012

Is it really good to share?


It used to be the case that sensitive company information could not be distributed or released without permission and a rubber stamp from senior management. In the digital age, sensitive data, intellectual property and brand information are distributed more widely via social media, Skype, online profiles and C.Vs. The ‘sharing’ is often done by an unaware younger workforce. An article from SC Magazine looks at the headache that this can cause information security professionals and the companies they are trying to protect. “We're living in a world where our entire emerging workforce has grown up online and has been engineered to over-share. Big data miners have taken notice,” says one interviewee. Such information can be used to plan targeted attacks on security systems or be used to competitive advantage. Information security training is one suggestion as well as clear guidelines in employment contracts. Find out more about the problems with sharing by reading the full article at http://www.scmagazineuk.com/the-problem-of-employees-sharing-too-much-information/article/248318/