UK Cyber Security Association Officially Opens for Membership
The UK Cyber Security Association has officially launched and is open for membership, it has been announced.
The body is designed to provide a community for anyone working in, or who has an interest in, the sector, helping promote best practices and information sharing both in the UK and internationally. It also aims to work alongside government, trade bodies, and cybersecurity groups to share information and initiatives.
Membership has now opened for individuals and organizations actively working in the cybersecurity industry. Those who join will be given access to an online portal and forum to engage with other members and the chance to participate in a program of events and training sessions, among other benefits.
A lack of gender diversity remains a major issue in a number of industries, and cybersecurity certainly falls into that category. As well as reducing barriers to entry, cultivating an environment where women feel comfortable and want to work in the sector over the long-term is a crucial aspect of addressing the significant imbalance that currently exists between genders. This will enable more women to reach high level, influential roles in the industry, encouraging others to follow in their footsteps.
Infosecurity recently spoke to Lisa Ventura, founder and CEO, UK Cyber Security Association.
In what ways have you seen the impact and role women have in cybersecurity change since you first started working in the industry?
Citing Orange’s
Security Navigator 2021 report, Charl van der Walt, head of security research at Orange Cyberdefense, began by outlining some unexpected trends in regards to incidents detected in the early stages of the crisis. Comparing two countries that took differing approaches to dealing with COVID-19 infections, in the tightly locked down France, there was a decrease in confirmed cyber-incidents of 18%, whereas in Sweden, where there was a much lighter approach to social distancing taken, the number of incidents remained similar. This “inverse” effect may be explained by the reduction in economic activity in these early months. “There were fewer people busy, connected to the network, fewer computers online and less interaction,” noted van der Walt. Therefore, the predicted surge in attacks did not occur over this time.