Renewed calls for accreditation for security professionals
by Judy Hinz - Online Editor
Early last month I attended Security in Government 2010 in Canberra. Conference chairman Mike Rothery was very pleased with the event, describing it as ‘the best yet’. From the feedback I heard, I think he was right to be pleased.
SIG2010 keynote speaker Attorney-General Robert McClelland announced that the government would move to consolidate its internet gateways, reducing the number from the current 100 plus to less than 10, an obvious recognition of the priority the government now accords to cyber security. The rationale here of course if that the fewer entrances across the moat to the castle walls the easier it is to defend. This certainly points to cyber attacks being the threat ‘du jour’.
The Attorney’s other important announcement on the day was to launch the Australian Government’s new Protective Security Policy Framework. He acknowledged that the previous framework had been developed at a time when government business was not as diverse as it is today, nor was it online. In fact the word hadn’t even entered our vocabulary.
The new framework replaces the current 250 page Protective Security Manual with a tiered framework. It’s a move that many have described as being long overdue.
Jason Brown, whose day job is National Security Director for Thales Australia, was active at SIG2010 in support of a cause close to his heart, the Australasian Council of Security Professionals. Even though on this occasion Jason struggled for voice [literally], he nevertheless urged support for the Council’s aims of developing a system of nationally-recognised accreditation for security professionals. He is keen to see security professionals develop a ‘sense of profession’. He wants to see a national training agenda adopted for security professionals and for the profession to have a national voice.
“Security must have a place at the top table,” he said. “If the CEO and board don’t take security seriously, it means the company is probably at risk and the security manager isn’t making an articulate case [for the importance of security as a business enabler].”
Jason is right. Security professionals with the standing of a chartered accountant or solicitor or similar professional will have a much stronger and more influential voice in expressing security concerns and making security recommendations. The profession clearly still has a long way to go to achieve this status but at least the movement has begun.
ASM strongly supports the security profession’s attempts to enhance its standing. I’d welcome your feedback on how you see this developing and what impact it might have on your career.
You can provide feedback to me via email here.