Francis Maude visits Midlands Cyber Security Firm

News and information from the Advent IM team.

The Rt. Hon. Francis Maude MP called in to meet the team at a West Midlands based Cyber Security Consultancy today.

Today, Advent IM was pleased to host a visit by the Rt. Hon Francis Maude MP as part of his remit as the Minister for Cyber Security. 

AdventIMMDMikeGillespiewithFrancisMaudeMr. Maude met with co-founders of Advent IM, Mike Gillespie and Julia McCarron, to find out more about the cyber security work the company delivers as the UK’s leading independent information security consultancy, its history, ethos and the challenges they face as an SME. 

Topics were wide and varied. Mike Gillespie explained the principles of a holistic and risk based approach to security and Mr Maude was particularly interested in how this translated into solid governance in business. Mr Maude was also keen to find out more about threat convergence and how cyber threats can now impact our physical environments and steps we can take to mitigate those threats. 

Francis Maude and Mike Gillespie Copyright Advent IM ltdThe team expanded on Advent IM’s development of cyber security training courses specifically for the Police in the areas of SIRO and IAO responsibilities and accountability, general cyber security awareness training opportunities currently being developed and Advent IM’s mentoring approach to consultancy delivery, ensuring it is seen by those involved as a business enabler. 

Mr Maude and the team discussed the merits of the G-Cloud procurement process and how there is room to improve perception that it is more for technology purchases than consultancy, and how Government is starting to drive the requirement for best practice information security and ISO27001 through its outsourced service providers.  Changes to the Government Security Classification scheme and the lack of understanding on its application were touched on, as were the issues faced by local authorities in connecting to PSN and how the latest changes would impact on those connecting or acting as a provider. 

Mr Maude also took the time to discuss areas of work with members of Advent staff from our Consultancy, Marketing and Sales teams and the challenges they face with implementing and promoting cyber security within the UK, and spoke to our Business Administration Apprentice on his social media role within the company. 

The visit, which lasted approximately an hour, was a privilege to host for Advent IM. “We appreciate the time Mr. Maude has taken to visit us today,” said Advent IM’s Operations Director Julia McCarron. “As Cyber security specialists a number of us have attended events where Mr Maude was present but we rarely have the opportunity to discuss what is happening in the market with him or air our views fact-to-face. To be singled out and given the chance to discuss our company, the industry and involve all of our staff in that forum was an honour for the team.”  

Mr Maude thanked everyone for a useful exchange of views and thoughts before departing for his next appointment.

 

Issued:  21 Jan 2015                        Ends                                     Ref: VIP- 210115 Advent

 

 

 

NOTES TO EDITORS

 

About Advent IM

Advent IM is an independent specialist consultancy, focusing on holistic security management solutions for information, people and physical assets, across both the public and private sectors. Established in 2002, Advent IM is a centre of excellence for security services, promoting the benefits of best practice guidelines and standards and the need to address risk management to protect against potential threats.

 
From its offices in the Midlands and London, its Consultants work nationwide and are members of the CESG Listed Advisor Scheme (CLAS), Institute of Information Security Professionals (IISP), The Security Institute (SyI), Business Continuity Institute and British Computer Society.

Consultants are also Lead Auditors for the International standard for information security management (ISO 27001) and business continuity management (ISO 22301), Practitioners of PRINCE2, a recognised project management methodology widely used within the public sector, CISSP qualified and Home Office trained physical security assessors.

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