DSEI 2017: The battle for cyber security

Cyberspace is acknowledged as the 'fifth domain' of modern warfare – as vital to military operations as land, sea, air and space. Tackling the immense threat is proving a primary concern in the shaping of government and military strategies around the world. But the battle is also being fought in the civil domain, with companies – and most recently Parliament – fighting hacking attacks.

DSEI will provide a platform for those involved with designing and procuring technologies, and honing cyber skills for future fortification against this complex threat. The event will also feature, for the first time, a Cyber Hub for specialist providers of technology designed to defeat computer-generated attacks.

Launching the Security Seminar Programme on Tuesday 12 September, will be a panel discussing 'Global trends in cyber warfare' chaired by Jill Aitoro, Executive Editor of Defense News. Aistoro commented: 'Increasingly across government, industry, the commercial sector and in your own home, threats and responses are identical. The lines between public and private sectors are blurring as sectors and whole nations are having to rely on each other and are learning to collaborate. The Defense News panel session at DSEI will investigate this, among other global issues'.

Pioneering cyber security content will be presented by a series of eminent speakers including: Dr Adrian Nish, Threat Intelligent Team Lead at BAE Systems Applied Intelligence. Dr Nish will offer 'Insights from the front lines in the battle for cyber security'. 'Insider threat risks in a modern cyber world' will be examined by Ryan Meeks, Insider Threat Expert at Frazer-Nash Consultancy. Nik Beecher, Vice President of Cyber Security & ICT Solutions at Leonardo, will discuss 'A practical approach to creating a national cyber capability'. The importance of cyber security 'standardisation' will be presented by Sara Walton of British Standards Institution. Drawing on experience with the US Navy, an Essential guide for military critical infrastructure security will be offered by Ultra Electronics' Vice President of Federal Business, Charlene Mowery.

Specialists will also showcase their cyber security innovations on DSEI's exhibition floor. Across industry, many of the event's 1,600 exhibitors have identified the need for innovative solutions to this ongoing threat and are currently developing cyber-related products; these include: Deep-Secure, Armour Communication, KBC Networks, Sarsen Technology, and Aglaya.

DSEI's Event Director, Duncan Reid said: 'The cyber topics in the DSEI Seminar Programme provide a direct response to demands of customers from across the military, public sector and industry. The urgent need for innovative cyber security technology to enhance resilience is regularly highlighted as vital to national security and this is reflected by the encouraging number of visitors with an interest in this field who have already registered to attend'.