ScotlandIS Cyber

Holyrood Connect’s annual flagship cyber security conference returns to Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh, on 4 February 2025. This event will act as the premier opportunity for public and third sector professionals to connect in person, exchange ideas, and learn from each other, in an age where risks of cyber threats are greater than ever.

Gain insights into the latest developments in the digital security landscape, including:

– How to improve your organisation’s cyber resilience and recognise threats
– The opportunities and challenges associated with Artificial Intelligence
– What are insider threats and how to prevent those
– How to create and implement an effective incident response plan
-The latest developments in tackling cybercrime.

You will have the opportunity to pose questions and engage with our expert speakers during panel discussions and interactive masterclasses. Public Sector Cyber Security Scotland 2025 will also feature an exhibition, providing an opportunity for you to explore relevant solutions for your organisation.

Holyrood Connect publishes leading Public Sector ICT news in Scotland and hosts renowned Public Sector Tech events and conferences. You can view all of Holyrood Connect’s upcoming events here.

This event is free to attend for those working in the public and third sectors. Limited spaces are available for private sector attendees. If you wish to be added to the waiting list, please email eventsadmin@holyrood.com and we will notify you if a place becomes available.

Join our new series of events, ScotlandIS Tech Tidbits, on the first Tuesday of every month!

These 30 minute webinars will be short, informative sessions on a variety of topics, from exporting to cybersecurity, cloud computing to procurement, and many more.

Each event will feature a ScotlandIS member offering their expert insights and advice on the topic in hand, however you do not need to be a member to attend these talks.

For our first event of the year, this February we’ll have Gareth Edwards, Chief Client Officer of GoCodeGreen, as our guest speaker!

GoCodeGreen is the leading Digital Carbon Sustainability Measurement & Consulting Business, based in Edinburgh.

Digital and technology is now the fastest growing source of emissions on the planet and with the growth of AI it’s only set to get worse.

What can you do as an individual and as an organisation to mitigate this impact? Find out why it’s not just a threat, but an opportunity too.

Holyrood Connect’s cyber security event is making its debut in Glasgow on 5 February 2025.

This event is an opportunity to exchange ideas, explore strategies, and network with other public and third sector professionals in person to develop your organisation’s cyber security.

Through panel discussions and a masterclass, this half-day event will help you gain insights into protecting your organisation in the age of growing cyber threats, including:

–               Evaluating existing public sector challenges in cyber security prevention

–               How specific challenges can be addressed and dealt with effectively

–               Managing digital resilience through training

–               Exploring the free tools and services available to support public and third sector organisations

There will be plenty of opportunities to ask questions and engage with our panellists and industry leaders during the event.

 The event will also feature an exhibition, providing an opportunity for you to explore relevant solutions for your organisation.

Holyrood Connect

Holyrood Connect publishes leading Public Sector ICT news in Scotland and hosts renowned Public Sector Tech events and conferences. You can view all of Holyrood Connect’s upcoming events here.

This event is free to attend for those working in the public and third sectors. Limited spaces are available for private sector attendees. If you wish to be added to the waiting list, please email eventsadmin@holyrood.com and we will notify you if a place becomes available.

Charities are using digital systems every day to deliver their services and keep in touch but with this capability comes a level of risk. Join us for an engaging half-day event tailored specifically for third sector organisations looking to help their organisation stay safe online. This free event is designed to give you the tools, knowledge, and connections to boost your cyber resilience.

Improve Cyber Awareness
Learn steps to enhance your organisation’s understanding of cyber risks and how to stay vigilant.

Interactive Workshop: Build Your Cyber Incident Response Plan
Get hands-on experience creating a tailored plan to ensure your organisation is prepared to respond effectively to cyber incidents.

One-to-One ‘Meet the Experts’ Sessions
Sit down with cyber experts to discuss personalised steps you can make for improving your organisation’s cyber resilience.

Lunch & Networking
Enjoy a relaxed lunch while connecting with like-minded professionals from the third sector. Share experiences, challenges, and solutions as you strengthen your network.

Who should attend?

Anyone working and/or volunteering for a third sector organisation in Scotland at the beginning of their cyber resilience journey, and maybe not sure where to start, who provides leadership and/or is responsible for aspects of operations/IT.

Don’t miss this opportunity to take the first steps towards a safer, more secure organisation. Together, we can build a resilient third sector, equipped to thrive in the face of digital challenges.

Our next CISO Safe Space will take place on 24th February as part of Cyber Scotland Week 2025.

Held in partnership with CyberNorth, this session will be led by Annabel Berry of Leading Cyber, and will focus on mental health and wellbeing in the cyber security sector.

As cybersecurity professionals, we operate in a high-pressure environment, constantly facing evolving threats and the responsibility of protecting critical systems and data. This constant vigilance and the weight of potential consequences can lead to an overall reduction in wellbeing, and longer-term significant stress, anxiety, and burnout.

The 24/7 nature of the industry, coupled with the fear of missing a critical threat or experiencing a major breach, creates a demanding and often overwhelming workload.

This can lead to critical errors in judgment, missed crucial security indicators, or an ongoing struggle to maintain focus and vigilance.

This workshop will address these challenges and why it is critical to our overall cyber resilience that we address this on an individual, team and organisational level.

Event Objectives:

• Raise awareness: To give an overview of the scale of the problem in the industry and the work of the work of the Mental Health in Cyber Security Foundation (MHinCS Foundation) and its Charter.
• Reduce stigma: Discuss the creation of safe spaces to discuss mental health openly and reduce the stigma surrounding seeking help.
• Promote self-care: Suggest practical self-care strategies to improve individual mental well-being.
• Foster team support: Highlight strategies for leaders that can support the wellbeing of their team members.

This event is for CISOs, CTOs, or those performing a similar role.

Agenda

5pm – Arrival

5:15pm – Guest speaker, Annabel Berry of Leading Cyber

6:45pm – Pizza and networking

8pm – Event close

Join our new series of events, ScotlandIS Tech Tidbits, on the first Tuesday of every month!

These 30 minute webinars will be short, informative sessions on a variety of topics, from exporting to cybersecurity, cloud computing to procurement, and many more.

Each event will feature a ScotlandIS member offering their expert insights and advice on the topic in hand, however you do not need to be a member to attend these talks.

For our March event, we’ll be joined by Dr David Bell, Product Manager at Bellrock Technology, as our guest speaker!

How can we overcome fundamental challenges to unblock the true value of AI and data in business?

AI is transforming industries, yet many organisations struggle to realise the full return on their investment. In this talk, we’ll explore the key barriers preventing businesses from leveraging AI effectively and discuss practical strategies to overcome them.

The 15th annual ScotlandIS Digital Technology Awards showcase excellence within the industry rewarding the innovation, expertise and ambition of businesses large and small – and the people that drive them.

Let’s highlight some of the great achievements within the tech sector over the last 12 months!

There are a variety of different awards up for grabs that could shine a light on the fantastic work you’ve been doing – our shortlist has now been announced.

Digital Tech 2025 will take place on 20th March, at the Radisson Blu hotel in Glasgow.

This year ScotlandIS turns 25 and the evening will act as a birthday party, so expect some fun birthday surprises. We look forward to you joining us for a night of food, fun and celebration of the industry.

Click the ‘Learn More’ link below now for more details and to book tickets.

The Scottish Cyber Awards has rapidly become a cornerstone of Scotland’s annual cyber calendar. Now in its 8th year, there is great anticipation surrounding the awards.

This year’s awards take place on 27th March 2025, at the EICC, Edinburgh starting at 6:30pm.