Cyber Security Connect UK 2018 - "A resounding success'

The first edition of Cyber Security Connect UK, held in Monaco over the period 7 - 9 November, was a resounding success.

The overwhelmingly positive and kind feedback received, including thanks and congratulations from those who attended, has reinforced what an achievement the event was for the organisers.

"Thank you for your Herculean efforts and Olympian ingenuity in organising and leading such an excellent conference. It was great quality in content, in tone and in organisation. Considering this was a first one, you have done an even more tremendous job."""

Duncan Stott, Kier, CIO Cyber Security Connect UK was produced by the teamwork of SASIG Events and DG Consultants, a subsidiary of Comexposium, the world’s third-largest events organisation. For the past 18 years, DG Consultants has run Les Assises, the leading annual event for the French cybersecurity community.

"Massive congratulations and thanks for Cyber Security Connect. I think it went really well and I certainly got a lot from it. I don't attend many events because they are often vendor driven and you spend most of the event fending off unwanted advances, but this was exactly the right type of environment to have those grown-up conversations."

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Steve Byrne, Information Security Officer, DWF LLP

The SASIG team was thrilled to witness the level of engagement between the 200 selected participants from the cybersecurity industry. During the three days, conversations focussed how to develop opportunities and address the community's challenges through thought leadership and good practice.Positive and productive camaraderie were the order of the day, and while SASIG rules dictate that everyone must make ‘at least five new friends’, it was evident that many more discussions and relationships will result, between peers and friends, old and new.

 "A huge thank you for the great conference you and your team pulled together! We are likely going to go ahead with a vendor whom I met with. More importantly, I met some great people who I'll continue to talk to throughout my career, I'm sure. Also, what a great talk at the end! Thank you so much!"""

Connor Wright, Information Security Analyst, The Economist

This was a unique opportunity for delegates to meet 38 of the market's leading cybersecurity supply, services and technical solutions vendors all in one place and create real relationships with those they chose to meet.

"I wanted to write and thank you for hosting the best vendor/client event I have attended. I developed useful contacts through the workshops and stand visits. Over and above making useful contacts, I received a great education, keeping me on the front foot. Thanks again."""

Andrew Gudgeon, Head of Operational Risk Oversight: Cyberspace, Resilience and Transformation, Nationwide

Participants appreciated a prestigious speaker line-up. Peter Yapp, Deputy Director of NCSC, gave the opening presentation before joining a distinguished panel representing government and law enforcement agencies on the topic of ’Tackling Cybercrime in the 21st Century’.SASIG put together a programme of round-table sessions that were attended by full-capacity audiences. These were on fascinating topics such as ‘Reaching the boardroom with meaningful cybersecurity metrics’, ‘Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the Cybersecurity Profession’, ‘The Insider Threat’, and ‘The French Connection’.Delegates were also treated to the wonderful closing presentation ’9/11 – A First-Hand Experience’ by BAFTA Award-winning documentary maker, Paul Berriff OBE.

"Thank you for being such an advocate for diversity within our industry. The entire event was excellent and a testament to the hard work put in by the SASIG and DG teams. Here’s to 2019."""

Ed Rogers, UK Board Lead, Ford Globe

Martin Smith MBE, SASIG Chairman and Founder, said: "A heartfelt thanks from me and my team to the chairs and panel members who came together to share the invaluable knowledge, wisdom and experience that they brought to the discussions, for the education and betterment of our industry. In particular, Mark Walmsley, CISO for Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, and the event steering committee of industry experts worked tirelessly to shape the event into the spectacle that it evidently became.

"We are also indebted to all the delegates and partners for taking a leap of faith by committing to this brand-new format event. To get so many senior professionals from both sides of the vendor/user divide together for three days and keep their attention, to generate so much energy and enthusiasm, all for the first time - well, it was far more than I expected or could ever have hoped for. Without them, this all simply could not have happened.”""

He added:

"The widespread consensus is that we should repeat Cyber Security Connect UK next year, so if you attended, please tell your colleagues about your experience. We also encourage everyone to save the date in their diaries for Wednesday 13 - Friday 15 November 2019; we would love to see you for the next exciting edition."""

 Visit the Cyber Security Connect UK website to stay up to date with all the plans for 2019.