The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) hosted its 50th Appleton Lecture at the Royal Institution in London. The lecture highlighted the risks faced by UK citizens and businesses from cyber-crime and outline the role that engineers can play in safeguarding digital information.
The lecture by James Quinault CBE, the Director of the Office of Cyber Security and Information Assurance (OCSIA) at the Cabinet Office was titled ‘Cyber security: why we should be worried and what we can do about it’.
As he set out, the UK Government rates the risks from cyber attack as a top-tier threat to the security of the United Kingdom and will set out what Government and its partners are doing to respond. He spoke of the collaboration that is needed between government, business and academics to identify, contain and mitigate cyber attacks. By working collaboratively, organisations and individuals can tackle the risks arising from the exploitation of cyberspace without compromising its enormous economic and social benefits, he added.
James Quinault said: “Digital technology has transformed our lives enormously for the better. But as our reliance on digital infrastructure grows so does our vulnerability to cyber attack. Over the last six months alone we have seen a number of high profile organisations like Sony and Apple suffering operational and reputational damage at the hands of hackers.”
The 50th Appleton Lecture forms part of the IET’s Prestige Lecture series to showcase the latest ideas and technologies from a variety of disciplines. Visit: www.theiet.org/appleton.
