Cyber Risk – one of the biggest threats to business – is next IOD debate

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The title of the next Guernsey Institute of Directors’ (IOD) debate, is ‘Cyber Risk: Are you fully prepared and covered?’ The debate to be held on January 31st, is the latest in the winter seminar series sponsored by JT.

Rob Jones from Guernsey IOD Committee said: ‘Cyber risk has been called one of the biggest threats to businesses today by all manner of experts including the US President. It is not just a risk for companies who have sophisticated digital footprints, but every business, even if you only send out emails, download documents from websites, or have client data storage. I’m pleased to say we have an excellent panel of experts who will be able to give their advice and views on how Guernsey businesses can best protect themselves.’

The aim of the JT sponsored Winter seminar series is to provide business leaders and owners with thought provoking insight and analysis around the increasingly challenging area of optimising an appropriate digital strategy. Over a series of months, key opinion leaders and speakers will help lead IoD members and guests through debate around what is rapidly becoming one of the key communication challenges for businesses today.

Tamara O’Brien, Deputy Managing Director, JT (Guernsey) said: ‘JT are pleased to sponsor this seminar in particular, as well as assist in moderating on this important topic. Any business which has transactional websites, client data storage, conducts digital commerce or social networking can be at risk. Attacks can come in many forms and have grown in complexity, volume and sophistication.

Furthermore the Channel Islands have already been subject to attacks in recent months, so making this topic timely and important for business leaders of all types of organisation to attend. We worked with the IoD to secure world-class experts, to provide practical advice and guidance on protecting themselves, and indeed complying with the relevant regulations. This is a complex area for which we can all benefits from this panel’s expertise”.

The Guernsey branch of the IOD has around 750 members, representing the interests of Directors from Guernsey, Alderney, Sark and Herm.

The Expert panel consists of: Paul King, Director, Threat Intelligence, Cisco Systems, Raheila Nazir, UK Cyber and Technology Lead, AIG Europe Limited, Nick Vermeulen, Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers CI LLP, and will be moderated by Dave Newbold, the Chief Technology Officer at JT.

The seminar is being held on Friday 31^st January, 12.30 to 2pm in the Colborne Room, Old Government House Hotel. £15 for members, £20 for non members. Contact: Tony Brassell on iodguernsey@gmail.com for further information.