ScotlandIS Cyber

Corporate governance and cyber risk are becoming increasingly intertwined as the world becomes more digitised. In response to this, DSIT has published a call for views on a proposed Cyber Governance Code of Practice which seeks to inform directors, non-executive directors, and senior leaders about the actions they need to take to ensure their organisations are resilient to threats.

DSIT is inviting stakeholders from across the economy and society to provide feedback on the proposed Code, to understand if the cyber risks are presented and explained in a way that is straightforward and can be implemented.

The scope of the call for views is focused around three particular issues:

• the design of the cyber governance Code of Practice;
• how the UK government can drive uptake of its use and compliance with the code; and
• the merits and demand for an assurance process against the Code.

Speaker Details:

Jack Harrigan is Head of Cyber Governance and Accountability at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. He is part of the Cyber Resilience team that improves resilience to cyber risks across the UK economy. Jack leads work on embedding cyber into existing corporate governance and business regulations and driving senior leaders to govern cyber risk more effectively. Jack has a decade of experience in government and has previously worked on the UK GDPR and the free flow of personal data.

John Maguire

John Maguire is the Head of Cyber Resilience and Incentives at the Department of Science, Innovation, and Technology, focusing on improving the management and prioritisation of cyber risk within organisations across the UK economy.  He has worked for government for over 15 years, which includes central government, devolved government, and executive agency experience.  Prior to his current role, he was working on UK digital trade policy and negotiations.

The call for views will close on 19^th March.

To book your place please email Nicola.Jackson@storyapp.net

Join CENSIS for a catch up over a virtual coffee and connect with companies, researchers and stakeholders with an interest in the same space. This event has been organised with help from Scottish Enterprise and ScotlandIS.

There is no fixed agenda for any of our virtual coffees, and we aim for a forum that is open, friendly and encourages conversation. The direction of the discussion always follows whatever people on the call want to talk about, and the conversations are never recorded.

Led by CENSIS Business Development Director, Cade Wells, this session explore cyber security exporting – including products, services and expertise. Cade will be joined by Xavier Bellekens, CEO of Lupovis and Malcolm Warr OBE, Chair of CNI Scotland.

A thriving cyber security sector is important not only for UK national security, but also for our economic prosperity. On this call we’ll be discussing how we can share our knowledge and ideas with other countries for our mutual benefit. Join us to discuss how working together globally can lead to great security and prosperity for everyone.

Potential topics for discussion might include:

• How can we best share cyber-knowledge to gain export advantage?
• What cyber opportunities can be promoted on the back of certain initiatives, e.g., the UK/Australia/USA ( AUKUS) initiative?
• What export opportunities and/or risks exist in particular regions or countries?
• What about dual use and the ECJU (Export Control Joint Unit), part of the Department for Business & Trade?
• Is selling cyber solutions as hard as selling insurance?
• What about the ‘Cybersecurity Made in Europe’ label, an industry-driven marketing tool designed to promote European cybersecurity companies?
• From selling into Scotland to selling internationally – what are the next steps?

ScotlandIS in partnership with Scottish Government are hosting a unique opportunity to join an “NHS Meet the Buyer” webinar.

Join us for an insightful webinar where you’ll gain valuable perspectives on how you access procurement opportunities within Scotland’s healthcare sector.

Discover the future landscape of healthcare opportunities in Scotland directly from NHS representatives.

To register, email Ross Murray at ross.murray@storyapp.net

Join our next ITMS Community event on 12th March in Aberdeen, which will be a ‘Lunch and Learn’ session, kindly hosted by IFB.

This event aims to bring together ITMSPs from the region to foster networking opportunities, and facilitate the sharing of challenges and best practices.

ScotlandIS Head of Cyber, Beverly Bowles, will kick off the afternoon with an update on the cluster and charter, and how Scotland’s IT Managed Service Provider community is taking shape.

We’ll then have a speaker from Police Scotland offering a policing/forensics perspective to what ITMS companies should be securing themselves against, including insights on response and recovery practices and breach case studies. 

We look forward to welcoming you to this enriching IT Managed Service Providers Networking Event, where you will gain valuable insights, forge new connections, and contribute to the growth of the ITMSP community in Aberdeen. 

This ITMS event is CPD certified! Gain hours towards your CPD qualifications by coming to our events.

ScotlandIS, in partnership with Equate Scotland and Scotland Skills Development Scotland, is delighted to be providing a free online session about inclusive recruitment practices specifically designed for small and medium enterprises within the tech ecosystem.

Workplace inclusion in today’s environment is a critical topic that tech employers can no longer see as “a nice to have”. Inclusive recruitment is a vital component of a broader approach. By ensuring that inclusive recruitment practices are embedded within the organisation, not only are we adhering to our legal duties but also ensuring we are tapping into a wider talent pool, fostering diversity of people, experiences, and innovation.

Inclusive recruitment refers to the processes and practices used to attract, interview, and hire a diverse pool of talent. This is to ensure we can reduce bias at different stages of the recruitment process and ensure the best-qualified people get hired for positions regardless of gender, ethnicity, or any other protected characteristics.

Why is inclusive recruitment important when hiring?

• Widen your talent pool to have a diverse pool of candidates to choose from. This is to ensure you don’t miss out on talents.
• Show your commitment to diversity & inclusion. Send a positive message to candidates and showcase that you want to create an environment that will help them learn and succeed.
• Set a positive environment from the start as the experience during the interview process will influence how candidates feel about joining your organisation.

What will you learn?

• Increase your understanding of what inclusive recruitment is within the Scottish tech ecosystem.
• Learn about current best practices throughout the recruitment process and know how to apply them within your organisation.
• Develop skills to review your own recruitment processes and identify short-term and long-term actions.
• Where to find resource and guidance to continue your learning.

Who should attend?

• This training is designed specifically for small and medium-sized enterprises with a requirement for digital skills.
• Ideal for professionals in a management or leadership position, working in Human Resources or involved in the recruitment process.

When is it?

This training will be hosted online and split across two sessions to allow time for self-reflection. Participants should attend both sessions:

Tuesday 19th March, 10am – 11.30am

Tuesday 26th March, 10am – 11.30am

Scotland’s Cluster Ecosystem Conference is back, in partnership with the Scottish Cluster Ecosystem Alliance (SCEA). Aligning with the principles of SCEA, the conference will highlight opportunities and insights from across the tech ecosystem, and areas for cross-cluster collaboration. The day will look at international opportunities for tech businesses, as well as showcasing numerous initiatives being launched within Scotland’s tech sector.

This year the theme will focus on sustainability, with areas for discussion including how the sustainability of our organisations might impact our ability to do business in the years ahead, how we can work together to find solutions and how our sector can help to address climate change challenges. 

Intended outcomes of the conference 

• Discuss focussed areas where Scottish Tech businesses can improve their sustainability 
• Identify practices from other countries that can be implemented in Scotland to improve the sustainability of our tech organisations 
• Explore how the members of the Scottish Tech clusters can develop their Net Zero strategy to future proof their eligibility to trade internationally and therefore increase international trade. 
• Discuss how the skills of the sector can be used to assist in climate change challenges

AGENDA

09.15 – 09.45    Arrival, tea & coffee

09.45 – 10.00    Welcome

10.00 – 10.35    Cross-cluster collaborations to achieve net-zero

                             FinTech Scotland and Space Scotland 

10.35 – 11.05     How business leaders can be climate leaders

                             Gemma Jones, Director – Enterprises Sustainability, PwC 

                             Sheryl Newman, Chief Executive Officer, Appetite for Business 

11.05 – 11.30      Coffee break & networking

11.40 – 12.10     The role of Technology in addressing Net Zero 

                            Professor Sir Dieter Helm, University of Oxford 

12.10 – 12.55     From Concept to Commercialisation: Sustainable Approaches and using Tech in Design & Manufacture

                             Graeme McLaughlin, Design Engineering Team Lead, National Manufacturing Institute Scotland

                             Michael Groves, Founder and CEO, Topolytics 

                             Will Mitchell, Owner, 4C Design 

Abi Hird, Founder and Director, Defankle Innovation

13.00 – 14.00     Lunch

14.00 – 14.45     International Trade and Sustainability Standards 

                             Mike Robinson, Chief Executive, Royal Scottish Geographical Society

14.45 – 16.15      AI and Sustainability 
                             Keith O’Donnell, Managing Director, Feynic Technology Ltd

16.15 – 16.30      Close

*CANCELLATION POLICY*

A £99+VAT no-show charge will be levied should you fail to attend on the day and fail to notify us of your non-attendance. Cancellations must be confirmed by contacting catriona.blair@storyapp.net by no later than Tuesday 19th March. By booking your ticket, you agree to these terms and conditions.

Cluster Conference 2024 is now CPD certified! Gain hours towards your CPD qualifications by coming to our events.

ScotlandIS, in partnership with Equate Scotland and Scotland Skills Development Scotland, is delighted to be providing a free online session about inclusive recruitment practices specifically designed for small and medium enterprises within the tech ecosystem.

Workplace inclusion in today’s environment is a critical topic that tech employers can no longer see as “a nice to have”. Inclusive recruitment is a vital component of a broader approach. By ensuring that inclusive recruitment practices are embedded within the organisation, not only are we adhering to our legal duties but also ensuring we are tapping into a wider talent pool, fostering diversity of people, experiences, and innovation.

Inclusive recruitment refers to the processes and practices used to attract, interview, and hire a diverse pool of talent. This is to ensure we can reduce bias at different stages of the recruitment process and ensure the best-qualified people get hired for positions regardless of gender, ethnicity, or any other protected characteristics.

Why is inclusive recruitment important when hiring?

• Widen your talent pool to have a diverse pool of candidates to choose from. This is to ensure you don’t miss out on talents.
• Show your commitment to diversity & inclusion. Send a positive message to candidates and showcase that you want to create an environment that will help them learn and succeed.
• Set a positive environment from the start as the experience during the interview process will influence how candidates feel about joining your organisation.

What will you learn?

• Increase your understanding of what inclusive recruitment is within the Scottish tech ecosystem.
• Learn about current best practices throughout the recruitment process and know how to apply them within your organisation.
• Develop skills to review your own recruitment processes and identify short-term and long-term actions.
• Where to find resource and guidance to continue your learning.

Who should attend?

• This training is designed specifically for small and medium-sized enterprises with a requirement for digital skills.
• Ideal for professionals in a management or leadership position, working in Human Resources or involved in the recruitment process.

When is it?

This training will be hosted online and split across two sessions to allow time for self-reflection. Participants should attend both sessions:

Tuesday 19th March, 10am – 11.30am

Tuesday 26th March, 10am – 11.30am

Scotland’s 10th Annual Cyber Security for Business Summit with live keynotes, workshops and exhibition.

Scot-Secure is Scotland’s largest annual cyber security conference. The event brings together senior InfoSec personnel, IT leaders, academics, security researchers and law enforcement, providing a unique forum for knowledge exchange, discussion and high-level networking.

The programme is focussed on improving awareness and best practice through shared learning: highlighting emerging threats, new research and changing adversarial tactics, and examining practical ways to improve resilience, detection and response.

This Summit is geared  for InfoSec & IT personnel.

Join our next ITMS Community event on 28th March in Edinburgh, which will be an afternoon session held at the The Sheraton hotel.

This event aims to bring together ITMSPs from the region to foster networking opportunities, and facilitate the sharing of challenges and best practices.

AGENDA

14.00-14.20   Welcome, Tea and Coffee 

14.20-14.30 ITMSP Cluster and Charter Update – Beverly Bowles, ScotlandIS Head of Cyber

14.30 -15.00 Pre-attack planning/Life’s a Breach – Craig Archdeacon, Head of Cyber Assurance and Jessica Hall, Head of Security Operations, Waterstons 

15.00-15.30 Moving Investigations Forward/Incident Response and Business Recovery/Articulating the Risks and what may be lost – Mark Cunningham Dickie, Quorum Cyber 

15.30-16.00 Incident Response, Digital Forensics, Post Incident Recovery – DS Paul Livingstone, Police Scotland

16.00-16.10 Comfort Break 

1610-16.45 Panel

16.45 – 17.00 Tea/Coffee/Snacks and Close 

We look forward to welcoming you to this enriching IT Managed Service Providers Networking Event, where you will gain valuable insights, forge new connections, and contribute to the growth of the ITMSP community in Edinburgh. 

We’re embarking on a transformative journey to unite the cybersecurity and business communities like never before.

At UK Cyber Week – Expo & Conference 2024, our mission is clear: to foster collaboration by bringing world-class experts together, allowing them to share their invaluable knowledge, tools, and skills. Our ultimate aim is to empower individuals and organisations with the latest insights and cutting-edge strategies. Together, we’ll fortify our teams, companies, supply chains, and infrastructure against the ever-growing threat of cyber attacks.

By participating in UK Cyber Week, you can engage with a specialised and enthusiastic audience, leading to potential time and cost savings.

Our event draws attendees from various stages of the cybersecurity landscape, actively seeking solutions for their current and forthcoming projects. With a substantial turnout of participants, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with a discerning and highly focused audience actively seeking their next cyber solution.

The ScotlandIS Digital Technology Awards showcase excellence within the industry, rewarding the innovation, expertise and ambition of businesses large and small – and the people who drive them. Let’s highlight some of the great achievements within the tech sector over the last 12 months – nominate your organisation or an individual for the chance to be recognised amongst your peers.  Running for 14 years, the Awards are well established within our industry, offering winners the opportunity to use our platform to promote your business. Sharing your official winner’s badge on your website and social channels acts as a stamp of credibility and highlights quality standards to potential new clients.

We have two brand-new awards for 2024: Cyber Trailblazer, looking to recognise companies that have a novel solution to a cyber challenge, and Digital Tech Rising Star, shining a light on early career talent and the leaders of tomorrow.

If you have created a product or service that brings benefit to society, you could be eligible for the Tech for Good award, while innovative applications of data to transform businesses could indicate our Data Trailblazer.

If your organisation shows employees they are valued, and goes that extra mile to provide a positive working environment, then you might just have the Best Wellbeing at Work. The Digital Tech Business of the Year category looks to recognise start-ups, scale-ups and large companies that impress the judges with their outstanding tech, commercial success and growth over the past year.

There are a variety of different awards up for grabs that could shine a light on the fantastic work you’ve been doing, and all the criteria for each category is on our website so you can prepare your application answers in advance. Digital Tech 2024 will take place on 2nd May, at the Radisson Blu hotel in Glasgow. We look forward to you joining us for a night of food, fun and celebration of the industry. If you have any questions about the Digital Tech Awards, please contact marketing@storyapp.net.   Tickets will be available to buy once the shortlist is announced in March.

Our next Software Engineering Leaders Forum will take place in Edinburgh, and will be led by Steve Higgon, CEO of TAAP, around the topic of Generative AI.

The quarterly S.E.L.F group provides a forum for software engineering leaders, CIO’s and CTO’s across the Scottish tech sector to share ideas and explore common challenges. The meetups also provide opportunities for informal mentoring and potential opportunities for joint working.

The evolution of the software development lifecycle (SDLC) has been marked by a continuous search for methodologies that enhance efficiency, adaptability, and responsiveness. This journey, from the structured Waterfall model to more flexible frameworks like Agile and DevOps, highlights the industry’s commitment to evolving with technological advancements and market demands. While Agile introduced a paradigm shift by emphasising iterative development, collaboration, and customer feedback, it also preserved the core phases of the SDLC—requirements analysis, design, implementation, testing, deployment, and maintenance. The subsequent integration of DevOps and Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) practices further enhanced collaboration between development and operations teams. Despite the rapid pace of innovation, the foundational stages of the SDLC have demonstrated remarkable resilience, proving their lasting relevance in adapting to the changing software landscape.

In the digital era, generative AI is the latest transformative force in the SDLC, offering unparalleled capabilities in automating and optimising the development process. This shift towards leveraging AI tools represents a significant leap forward, streamlining development cycles, reducing costs, and igniting product innovation. TAAP is pioneering the integration of generative AI within application development. Our upcoming presentation will explore the best practices for utilising these powerful technologies, supported by real-world customer use cases. These examples will illustrate the substantial benefits of generative AI, showcasing its ability to enhance and fundamentally transform the traditional software development lifecycle.

This event is exclusively for ScotlandIS members – secure your place now below.