ISF Helps SMEs Reduce Information Security Risk
The Information Security Forum (ISF) is extending its membership programme to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) address an increasing number of IT security threats, including the fight against cybercrime, protecting customer data and the growth of social networking.
The new ISF Membership, for companies with turnover of less than £100m, recognises that SMEs face many of the same challenges and compliance requirements as large enterprises, but without the same in-house resources, skills or budgets. By joining the ISF, SMEs can reduce information risk by gaining access to research, tools and methodologies; and by sharing knowledge and experience with security professionals from some 300 of the world’s largest corporations and public sector organisations.
“It is difficult for even the largest organisations to build the level of understanding and skills needed to keep abreast of information security issues, understand emerging risks and develop best practice solutions,” said Steve Durbin, vice president sales and marketing at the ISF. “That’s why many of the world’s major corporations, public sector bodies and government departments are ISF members and now we are making it possible for SMEs to harness the knowledge, resources and tools to reduce their information risks.”
As an ISF SME member, any employee involved in IT security, risk management and audit have unlimited access to the ISF member website with over 400 authoritative reports, web-based tools such as the ISF Security Healthcheck, as well as online forums and discussion groups. SME members can pay additional incremental fees to access other tools including the ISF Information Security Benchmark and attend ISF workshops and chapter meetings and the ISF Annual World Congress. This year’s congress is in Monaco and is expected to attract some 500 senior information security professionals in a confidential, peer-to-peer environment.