Scotland’s annual week-long festival of events on cyber awareness, careers, and innovation in cyber security, is to return in 2021. CyberScotland Week from February 22 to 28 will run for a third year. The aim, after the 70 events of the 2020 week; to increase awareness of staying safe and secure online, by managing risks.
The week will have virtual sessions for the first time; conferences, workshops and webinars. The 2021 agenda is taking shape with sessions to be confirmed via the website. As with previous years, the week will focus on the three key themes of Protection, Innovation and Skills and Careers. Across these sessions, partners will showcase the innovative work taking place across Scotland’s cyber sector and, as the job market flexes, skills development and career opportunities in the cyber security industry will likely be of significant interest to attendees.
Scottish Government Public Finance Minister Ben Macpherson said: “Cyber criminals pose a significant risk to businesses, organisations and individuals, and we all have a part to play in making Scotland more and more digitally resilient. CyberScotland Week is now a landmark date in Scotland’s cyber calendar and a source of valuable advice and information about how to stay safe online and keep your data secure. This is even more important as we spend more time online during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It is also an opportunity for Scotland’s rapidly growing tech sector and world class universities to showcase their expertise, innovation and latest products.”
The Scottish Business Resilience Centre (SBRC) will lead and contribute to several sessions; and will host the Scottish Cyber Awards, on the Thursday, February 25. The awards celebrate the individuals and organisations working to make a difference to Scotland’s cyber security across public and private sectors.
Kirstie Steele, pictured, is Cyber Resilience Community Lead at the SBRC. She said: “The last seven months has reinforced how much we rely on technology as part of our everyday lives – allowing us to keep in touch with family, friends and colleagues as we navigate the pandemic. However, this has created an opportunity for hackers to take advantage of our vulnerability for their own gain. Now more than ever, it’s vital that we know what to do look out for and put steps in place to reduce the chance of us becoming a victim, and the impact if we do.”
To find out more and register an event, visit www.cyberscotlandweek.com.
