Centre for Secure Information Technologies – A Future Legacy
By Stephen Wray
The dust has almost settled on the 5th World Cyber Security Summit at the Centre for Secure Information Technologies (CSIT). This year’s summit attracted people from around the world to Belfast and the Northern Ireland Science Park (NISP), including senior representatives from industry, government and academia. Keynote speakers included leadership from the US Department of Homeland Security, the UK Office of Cyber Security and Information Assurance, Allstate, Roke, BAE Systems, Rapid7, Symantec, Paladin Venture Partners and Stanford Research Institute.
The theme of the summit was ‘A Future Legacy’. We used the inspiration of our setting at the science park and related that, as we were surrounded by the legacy of so much heavy industry shaping our landscape, we are constantly reminded that this place only belongs to us for a generation. The generations before us left a legacy and so must we. At the summit, we encouraged delegates to think about how we could shape and inform the cybersecurity landscape to leave a lasting technological legacy for generations to come.
Reflecting on the summit, my lasting impressions included the most excellent talks, inspiring break-out sessions, the energy and buzz from sideline conversations and the phenomenal sense of good-will among those present. The cyber threat is still as bleak as the stories we were told before our gala dinner at Crumlin Road Gaol, but the sense of community, of positive actors wanting to come together to make a difference to society and the economy, in this place, at this time, was very tangible.
During the summit there was a solar eclipse. Apparently, in parts of Italy people believe that seeds planted during an eclipse will flower brighter and last for longer… this sounds good to me!
Stephen Wray is the Commercial Director of the of the Centre for Secure Information Technologies.
