Government to spotlight cyber security

The Scottish Government has kick-started preparations for a week of events highlighting the country’s booming cyber security industry, and the growing threat of cyber crime.

‘Cyber Scotland Week 2020’ is planned for 17-23 February, and will be organised in partnership with ScotlandIS, the national trade association which champions the country’s vital and growing digital technologies sector.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney said ensuring Scotland is a cyber-resilient nation has never been more important, adding that leading-edge digital technologies bring enormous opportunities for public services and businesses alike, but also “new threats and vulnerabilities”.

Mr Swinney said:

“Having inadequate data protection in place represents a serious threat to any business, organisation or home. Cyber criminals stop at nothing to steal your content, and the effects on victims can be hugely damaging.

“Cyber Scotland Week 2020 will build on the success of last year’s inaugural event. It will offer everyone the opportunity to learn much more about keeping online information safe, and allow our industry-leading cyber security businesses and universities to showcase their latest innovations.”

Mr Swinney said more than 1,200 people took part in 30 events across the country earlier this year in the first Cyber Scotland Week, and again in February there will be a lot of advice and information available on how to keep yourself and your online data secure.

“I encourage everyone to consider how they can be part of Cyber Scotland Week 2020, and to play their part in making Scotland more digitally resilient,” he said.

Jane Morrison-Ross, CEO of ScotlandIS, said:

"This is an exceptional opportunity to showcase Scotland's cyber expertise across the entire cyber services industry. Scotland is increasingly a location of choice for businesses from around the world looking to work with our research sector and connect into our growing cyber industry cluster.

“Cyber resilience continues to be a challenge for everyone in business and across society as a whole. So it’s really important to foster the country’s existing and future generation of specialists and encourage the development of new products and services to ensure we protect against emerging threats."

For more information, visit www.cyberscotlandweek.scot and follow @cyberresscot on Twitter.

About Cyber Scotland Week 2020

The Scottish Government’s Cyber Scotland Week 2020 will take place February 17-23.

It will consist of a range of events/workshops/talks from stakeholders raising awareness of being safe and secure online, showcasing the innovative work that is happening across Scotland’s cyber sector as well as promoting a career in cyber security – an industry where there are many vacancies, not only in Scotland, but globally.

Website: www.cyberscotlandweek.scot
Twitter: #CyberScotWeek2020