Computer Security in London and Edinburgh

Computer security is a growing field: in London, in Edinburgh, and in the rest of the UK. In the world as a whole, Information Security has evolved from a specialist discipline to a central component of an organisation’s security function. Since the advent of the personal computer in the 1980′s, computers have escaped from the data processing centre to colonise every office in the country, and in great numbers. Right behind them is the consequent increased need for computer security, due to the exponential growth in the numbers of malicious hackers and opportunistic cyber-criminals in recent years.

In London, this has translated into a plethora of information security consultancies. The UK’s capital city is the location of the British headquarters of international banks, financial services companies, and multinational companies of every type. Many of these organisations are subject to stringent regulatory requirements, which include the need to comply with information security standards. This means that computer security in London is a highly active industry sector, with many specialist consultancy firms, as well as regular conferences (such as the annual Infosecurity Europe conference) and university degree courses in information security (such as the highly-regarded MSc in Information Security from Royal Holloway College, University of London).

However, it is a different picture in other areas of the UK. Even in large cities, such as Liverpool or Edinburgh, there are comparatively few computer security consulting firms, and only a few education or training courses in the subject. This is no doubt due to the comparative lack of large companies that are subject to regulatory pressures on information security governance. Without such pressures, organisations can be tempted to relegate computer security to a lower priority: a policy which may be appealing in the short term, but which risks damaging consequences in the longer term.

This unequal relationship between London (and the south-east of England) and the rest of the UK is not seen only in computer security. Although Edinburgh, for example, is a capital in its own right, and the headquarters of several banking and finance companies, it has only a fraction of the wealth and attractive power of London with regard to employee mobility, senior management posts, and international recognition. This situation has built up over many years, over centuries even, and will not change in a matter of a few years only.

As an industry sector in the UK, computer security is relatively new, whether in London, Edinburgh or other cities and towns. Information security has yet to reach its natural level in most areas of the UK, and in principle there is still room for expansion in at least the major financial and industrial centres, such as Edinburgh. In practice, however, further expansion will probably depend on an increase in awareness at board level of the vital importance of information security to all business types today.

About the Author

Harvey is passionate about getting you the best information security deals possible.

Explaining Computer Security

Kidde FA110 Multi Purpose Fire Extinguisher 1A10BC $19.99 466142 – MULTI-PURP.EXTINGUISHR.1A10BC – For every home or office Disposable Ready to fight small fires before they spread, strap bracket, gauge for easy pressure check …

Fulcrum Motion Sensor LED Porch Light …

Concept SL-100 32 LED Solar Security Light with Motion Detector $41.16 Add low-maintenance security light with this motion sensor, solar powered outdoor light. Just position the panel in a sunny location. At night, the light will automatically turn on when motion is detected and turn off again after a user-defined timer setting. No wiring is required, making this ideal for remote or hard to light locations. Brightness is equivalent to a 20 watt bulb. White finish UV …

SMC SMC7008BR Cable/DSL Router with 8 Port Switch $109.95 Designed for small to midsized offices, the SMC cable/DSL router combines a multifunctional broadband router with a seven-port 10/100 Mbps dual-speed switch, a built-in print server, an RS232 COM port for modem connections, and an Internet firewall for extra security. A WAN port along with Network Address Translation (NAT) extend simultaneous Internet access for up to 253 PCs on a LAN. The router…

Netgear FR314 Cable/DSL Firewall Router with Integrated 4-Port 10/100 Switch $245.00 Netgear’s FR314 cable/DSL Internet gateway firewall router offers integrated, hardware-based firewall protection specifically designed for sharing high-speed Internet connections in the home and small office. Designed with denial-of-service attack-prevention technology, it delivers business-level security to the home network including real-time e-mail alerts of any hacking attempt. It also pr…

SMC SMC7004BR Cable/DSL Router with 4 Port Switch $179.99 …

Hackers (Frontline) Hackers leave no fingerprints. They spend days casing potential victims, planting bugs that eventually allow them access to homes and businesses around the globe. Their crimes range from vandalism to credit card fraud to identity theft to multimillion-dollar bank heists. These self-described techno-nerds devote their time and energies to demonstrating just how vulnerable the internet has made onc…

Learning Windows NT Security (VHS) $7.98 …

Computer Security and Viruses [VHS] In the age of electronic information, safeguard your computer against deadly viruses or unwelcome intruders. Learn to log on and boot up without fear….

Kidde KN-COSM-B Battery-Operated Combination Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Alarm with Talking Alarm $64.97 The Kidde KN-COSM-B Battery-Operated Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Alarm combines two important safety devices into a single unit. This alarm includes a voice warning system that announces “Fire, Carbon Monoxide, Low Battery, or Smart Hush Activation.” The voice alarm eliminates any confusion and clearly warns you and your family of a smoke or carbon monoxide danger, or if your battery is in need of r…