MCA Conference
Malta – November/December, 2006

 

The Malta Communications Authority held its annual conference on "eSecurity: building national strategies that work". Jovan Kurbalija, director of DiploFoundation, participated as one of the main speakers of the conference. He talked about a global perspective on e-security through the World Summit on Information Society process and beyond. He focused on the global aspect, by first mapping global e-security, and then by indicating the main players, e-security issues and policy initiatives. This was followed by a summary of the main e-security developments in the context of the World Summit on Information Society (2003-2005) and the Summit’s follow-up. Particular focus was placed on Internet Governance policy, including the report from the first Internet Governance Forum held in Athens. Finally, the presentation reflected on mechanisms for synchronisation of global, regional and national e-Security policies. MCA’s conference convened experts from the EU to discuss various issues in relation to Internet security. This was done in recognition of the fact that increased security will have a direct positive impact on the attainment of the social and economic benefits that the information society brings about. The speakers included:

 

Paul G. Dorey, vice-president of Digital Security and Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), who spoke about "Digital Dependency – the Challenge of Trust". In his presentation, he raised the key issues of digital dependency and how to establish trust in technology and skilled professionals called upon to make it safe and secure.

 

Andrea Pirotti, executive director of the European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA), who spoke about "ENISA – Ensuring a Network and Information Security Environment". His presentation summarised the main activities of the agency and the scope of its work.

 

Valerie Gayraud, from the Internet, Network and Information Security Unit within the Information Society and Media Directorate-General. In her presentation, "The European Strategy for a Secure Information Society", she provided an update on the latest developments on European policy and research related to security and resilience in the Information Society.

 

Isabella Santa, a senior expert on awareness raising with ENISA, who gave an overview of the “Information Security Awareness Programmes in the EU: Insight and Guidance for Member States”, compiled by ENISA.

 

Geoff Smith, head of the Department of Trade and Industry’s Unit dealing with Internet policy and e-security, who reviewed developments in government policy and practice in the UK. He looked at the relationship between government activities and the needs of individual stakeholder groups.

 

Stephen Deadman, head of the Technology and Media law team within the Vodafone Group legal office, who provided an overview of some of the ways that users may be at risk from using mobile technologies and the ways Vodafone and other players in the mobile industry are responding to such issues, in a presentation entitled "Getting end user to be safe when using mobile technologies".

 

The conference was co-organised by the European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA). ENISA is a centre of excellence for the EU member states and EU institutions in network and information security, giving expert advice and recommendations and is a switchboard of information for best practices. ENISA facilitates contacts between the EU institutions, the members states and the private business, and industry actors.

 

Visit the MCA website: http://www.mca.org.mt