SASIG, the Security Awareness Special Interest Group, is calling on cyber security people in the financial services sector to build greater resilience against the threat cybercriminals pose by investing in new skills.
This call follows the latest Financial Sector Cybersecurity Symposium, organised by SASIG with the Bank of England. The symposium was attended by more than 250 delegates who heard that cyber threats include a growing number of ransomware attacks and that these will almost certainly increase during 2022. Supply chain service providers, who often cross international boundaries, were also seen as an increasing source compromising reasonably well-defended networks.
A consistent theme during the symposium was that employees and supply chain partners must have the right skills to spot potential threats. Financial services firms that are at high risk can strengthen their ability to protect against cyber threats by creating a business culture that builds internal capacity and greater confidence, the event heard.
Martin Smith MBE, Founder and Chairman of SASIG, said: “The cybersecurity landscape is constantly evolving, and cybersecurity professionals in the financial services sector are having to redouble their effort in the face of persistent threats. It is critical that the industry invests in new skills to understand the threats being faced and that it factors in robust cyber resilience procedures to manage threats effectively.
“Nine out of ten security breaches involve human intervention, either by accident or by design. And by creating no-blame cultures, where cybersecurity is second nature, firms will be able to stop the majority of incidents. Continuous learning and shared experiences will also foster a relentless focus on security.
“To do this, we need to attract a new breed of cybersecurity professionals to combine with established technical teams and vendors to protect firms’ data, information and systems.”
Skills training and career development are being showcased at SASIG’s Cybersecurity Skills Festival on Tuesday, February 22. The festival is being organised in association with the new body UK Cyber Security Council. A virtual event, it will feature keynote presentations and workshops about the latest cyber issues. A jobs fair will also run alongside the festival, where job opportunities with private firms and public sector bodies will be on offer.
Attendance is free for attendees and employers. To find out more and register for a place, visit: www.thesasig.com/skills-festival
About the Security Awareness Special Interest Group (SASIG)
Set up in 2004, SASIG is a peer networking forum for cyber security, representing hundreds of organisations of all sizes, public and private, in the UK. SASIG has more than 6,000 members drawn exclusively from CISOs and other decision-makers and influencers with responsibility for information security, besides academics and government agencies. Visit www.thesasig.com. It regularly runs webinars.
