NOTE: This event has now passed.
View current events
Please join CENSIS for the first workshop in our new cyber security programme to raise the awareness of challenges, solutions and opportunities in the development and use of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies in critical infrastructure applications. We are particularly interested in participation from public sector critical infrastructure organisations and private sector companies developing or adopting IoT products or services. These organisations are likely to be in the Chemicals, Civil Nuclear, Communications, Defence, Emergency Services, Energy, Finance, Food, Government, Health, Space, Transport and Water sectors. The event is suitable for both non-technical and technical people.
The workshop will include examples of IoT in critical infrastructure, and there will be a breakout session to discuss challenges, solutions and opportunities. We’ll also have guest speakers talking about their views and experiences in developing and adopting secure IoT.
Please apply to join us on the day by emailing sian.williams@censis.org.uk and providing details of your company or organisation and your current role.
The workshop is limited to 25 people. Due to the way this project is funded. Ideally, your organisation should have a base in Scotland.
Further information about the day plus an agenda is below, but if you have any other questions, please get in touch.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Provisional Agenda
- 10:00 Welcome and introduction (CENSIS)
- 10:15 View from a challenge(s) holder (TBC)
- 10:45 Presentation (PNDC)
- 11:15 Workshop (discussion breakout groups to identify challenges, opportunities, and solutions)
- 12:15 Group feedback
- 12:30 Next steps and closing remarks (CENSIS)
Background
The Internet of Things (IoT) is the interconnection of physical and virtual objects that enable objects to communicate with each other and share data. IoT objects, or devices, could be a simple temperature sensor, wearable health monitor, smartphone to a whisky bottling line or river flooding alarm system. Many IoT devices communicate via the Internet and often collect, process, analyse, store and relay data using a shared computer server, or cloud system.
IoT has the potential to facilitate significant benefits to the Scottish economy both in terms of improved infrastructure, public services and economic opportunities for industry. IoT will transform the business models of many industries of importance to the Scottish economy, either creating internal efficiencies or introducing new revenue streams. Businesses will be able to see in real time how products or services are performing and being used.
There are several challenges in the effective adoption of IoT due to its interconnected nature. A critical and recognised challenge is that of the security and resilience of the IoT systems, particularly given the current rapid adoption of IoT products and services. Cyber-attacks on IoT systems can lead to sensitive information leakage; the destruction or tampering with data impacting system functionality and decision making; physical damage; or complete system paralysis. To address these challenges the Scottish Government has published its Cyber Security Action Plans, as part of its national-level approach to cyber resilience across Scotland.
Led by CENSIS in partnership with the Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise, the IoT cyber challenge programme will deliver a series of events in 2020/21 including themed workshops, an accelerator programme and an IoT vulnerability pilot. The programme was announced on 7 November 2019 by Kate Forbes MSP, Minister for Public Finance and Digital Economy, at CENSIS’s sixth annual Technology Summit in Glasgow. The overall aims of the programme are:
- to raise awareness of cyber security and resilience challenges faced in both the design and manufacture of IoT products and services and in the adoption of IoT for integration into existing or new processes
- to educate and demonstrate best practices and mitigation strategies to address these challenges
- provide a better ability to collect feedback on issues faced in industry which could be used to define and drive other subsequent support activities
- improve access to IoT cyber security expertise to companies developing new or improved products, services and processes from the early stages of their development