ITP Techblog

Brought to you by IT Professionals NZ
Menu
« Back to Home

Global Cyber Alliance comes to town

Paul Brislen, Editor. 05 July 2018, 7:43 am

The Global Cyber Alliance (GCA) is an international, cross-sector effort dedicated to "eradicating cyber risk and improving our connected world" and its UK-based Executive Director, Andy Bates, is in New Zealand this month speaking with local IT and security groups.

Along with ITP Fellow Tony Krzyzewski, himself a GCA ambassador, Andy will be running two free briefing sessions, one in Auckland and one in Wellington, outlining the work the GCA undertakes and the role that such initiatives play in keeping everyone safe online.

The GCA's mission is to "unite global communities" and to "implement concrete solutions" to handle cross-border security issues and to address cyber risks. The organisation was founded in the US by the New York County District Attorney Cyrus Vance who realised that prosecuting offenders after the fact wasn't going to deliver as good a result as working to confront cyber crime prior to any activity.

From there, the GCA has grown to incorporate chapters around the world and with its ambassador programme has even reached our shores.

Areas of concern for the GCA include the basic underpinnings of the internet, which was not developed with security as a primary concern, and the implications of the Internet of Things (IoT) from a security perspective.

"Cities are moving toward taking advantage of technology to make operations more efficient and effective - everything from smart trash cans, to air quality detection, to traffic control.

This interconnectivity poses great risks, however, as cybercriminals can hack into devices and penetrate systems remotely, causing potentially catastrophic damage," says the GCA website.

Andy has been involved in IT and security in a variety of roles, most recently as CTO of Verizon's Egypt, Middle East and Africa division. 

Tony Krzyzewski has been involved in the New Zealand IT industry for over forty years, with the past 25 years specialising in cybersecurity. He has been involved in many areas of the industry and has been recognised as a leader in most areas that he has been involved with. He is acknowledged internationally as a pioneer in the cybersecurity sector and is frequently called on to present on this topic, as well as acting as a trusted advisor within the government and commercial sectors. He was made a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of IT Professionals last year and was appointed as one of the eight Ambassadors for the GCA earlier this year. 

The briefing sessions are offered on a first come, first seated basis and those wishing to attend can register here:

Wellington June 23rd  

Auckland June 24th       


Comments

You must be logged in in order to post comments. Log In

Ray Duncan 11 July 2018, 2:38 pm

Hi Paul,

The link for the Auckland event doesn't work (I checked the Wellington link and it works). Any suggestions?

BTW the event dates are a month out.

Ray <[email protected]>;.

Ray Duncan 11 July 2018, 3:20 pm

Hi Paul - have since found details under the Institute of Internal Auditors:

iianz.co.nz/tools/events/de...

Cheers,

Ray.


Web Development by The Logic Studio