Canon security roundtable highlights the changing role of the CSO
Core facts
· Canon Europe, world-leader in imaging solutions, held the first in a series of security roundtables attended by leading industry figures at this year’s ISF Forum
· In a year dominated by high profile security incidents, the debate highlighted the changing role of the CSO – from focusing on technology to information
· This change is underpinned by the underlying shift in business technologies, as CSOs are required to move from protecting endpoints to providing secure access to information
· Attended Mark Brown, Chief Information Security Officer at SAB Miller, commented: “Historically security has been all about the tech, all about the device. For me that is IT security. We (CSOs) need to elevate ourselves to being Information Security.”
Other key trends highlighted during the debate include:
Current security protection needs evolve at a faster pace
· Data loss and hacktivism are the two types of breach which strike fear in the hearts of CSOs, and require a different approach to security than traditional threats
· As the landscape evolves, CSOs need more security intelligence to help them deal with the problems of the future because right now they are still dealing with the problems of today
· Discussing current legislation, Quentyn Taylor, Director of Information Security at Canon Europe, said: “The problem with current cyber security legislation is that it stops at national borders, yet by definition cybercrime is trans-border. Whilst law enforcement agencies work very hard, they are used to dealing with things in the local statute book.”
Education is key, and must start from the ground up
· CSOs need to look beyond the traditional methods of employee training, and implement creative awareness programmes which stand a better chance of being received and remembered
· All areas for potential leaks need to be considered – recent Quocirca research found 70% of enterprise respondents suffered one or more accidental printing-related data breaches, an area often overlooked
Adrian Davis, Principle Research Analyst at the Information Security Forum, said: “Having security aware and cyber savvy staff turn up for work is great – this level of control and awareness in people means there is a solid platform for you to build on.”
Approved
Quentyn Taylor, Director of Information Security, Canon Europe
“Data loss is what has traditionally kept the CSOs awake at night. However, the emergence and popularity of cloud technologies and virtualisation is changing the game. Endpoints have become purely a means of accessing the data over the network, be that via a laptop, smartphone or a printer. Clearly, security strategies need to evolve as well.
It can be argued that they should evolve separately from the IT function. The CSOs’ role should be to provide their employees with secure access to information, which would allow the IT department to focus on the infrastructure and devices.
But to make that transition the CSOs need to learn how to interpret what is happening in their area and communicate that back to the business, using the business language. They have to learn how to translate the technical jargon into share price values that CFOs and CEOs can understand if they are to get their buy-in for the true value of information security.”
Boilerplate
Canon Europe is the regional sales and marketing operation for Canon Inc., represented in 116 countries and employing over 11,000 people across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
Founded in 1937 with the specific goal of making the best quality camera available to customers, Canon’s tireless passion for the Power of Image has since extended its technology into many other markets and has established it as a world leader in both consumer and business imaging solutions. Its solutions comprise products, ranging from digital compact and SLR cameras, through broadcast lenses and portable X-ray machines, to multi-function and production printers, all supported by a range of value added services.
Canon invests heavily in R&D to deliver the richest and most innovative products and services to satisfy customers’ creative needs. From amateur photographers to professional print companies, Canon enables each customer to realise their own passion for image.
Canon believes that considering the interests of society and the environment is an integral part of good business practice. This is embodied in its corporate philosophy Kyosei – ‘To live and work together for the common good’.
Further information about Canon Europe is available at:
