The hidden heroes of the online world have been celebrated at this year’s Scottish Cyber Awards. Cyber security affects us all, from those working with sensitive informative on the internet, to those who make an occasional purchase from a favourite website.
Held at the Sheraton in Edinburgh at the end of November, the awards were organised by the Scottish Business Resilience Centre (SBRC) to recognise cyber security innovators, pioneers, and leaders. For this year’s Scottish Cyber Awards, the headline sponsor was CGI. The company, which provides end-to-end IT and business process services, has a significant presence across three sites in Scotland, amplified by hundreds of locations across the Americas, Asia-Pacific and Europe.
This was the third year of the awards and one that Mandy Haeburn-Little, Chief Executive Officer of SBRC describes as “a game-changing year for cyber in Scotland, which has included the publication of the Scottish Government’s Cyber Resilience Strategy, the growth in cyber technical companies and, just last week, the announcement of the 11.7 million Tay Cities cyberQuarter Deal.”
With 11 categories including such prestigious awards as Best Cyber Breakthrough, Outstanding Cyber Team and Leading Light Innovation, a panel of six expert judges were chosen to select the best from excellent entries. The public also had a say this year, choosing the Best Customer Experience winner. CGI presented the award to the Champion of Champions Cyber Christmas Lectures, headed up by Martin Beaton, at the end of the evening. With every year the event is seen as more important, with the breadth and quality of the entries increasing.
Judging on behalf of the headline sponsor was Richard Holmes, Vice President Cyber Security Services for CGI. “It was an excellent evening, which celebrated the hard work and expertise of both individuals and organisations,” he says. “I thoroughly enjoyed the judging process and seeing the diversity of entries. As an organisation where cyber security is part of everything we do, CGI was delighted to be able to support this year’s event.”
Richard Holmes, Vice President Cyber Security Services for CGI
LOCAL PARTNERS, GLOBAL REACH
Even though the company has such a wide global reach, acknowledging the importance of working at a local level is paramount.
As such, CGI operates a sponsored degree programme with Glasgow Caledonian University, which enables students to study towards a BSc (Hons) in Computing whilst developing a career with CGI working at its Glasgow office. In 2015 CGI announced plans to take on 60 modern apprentices across Scotland. Many of these students could be winners in future Scottish Cyber Awards.
Steve Smart, CGI’s Senior Vice President for Scotland, said: “The Scottish Cyber Awards is a fabulous initiative that raises the awareness of cyber and recognises what can be achieved across a broad range of categories to improve security from national to citizen level. CGI was delighted to sponsor this event, held in recognition of the growing importance and critical nature of security in all aspects of business and public sector activities.”
This sponsorship is the latest example of CGI’s commitment to Scotland. Working together with organisations such as the SBRC on awareness raising of the importance of the work being done in cyber security will benefit the whole industry.
Steve Smart, CGI’s Senior Vice President for Scotland
Mandy Haeburn-Little was delighted at the success of this year’s event and has no doubt that having a headline sponsor with the global reach of CGI enhances its reputation and visibility.
“To receive support from an internationally recognised company with CGI’s calibre highlights the sheer importance of this sector and especially Scotland’s role within it.”
As Haeburn-Little points out, CGI’s commitment to future and emerging technologies – while investing in talent – aligns perfectly with the awards’ ethos, which is to celebrate and embrace passion and excellence from all corners of the industry.
“Support from CGI and other key sponsors undoubtedly helped to ensure that this year’s awards were the biggest and most impactful yet,” she adds. “We are building on the first two years of the event and bringing together this vibrant industry.”
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