SVEN SMIT The Cyber Pavilion will have an additional cybersecurity-focused stream of content
Building on the success of Securex 2018, in conjunction with A-OSH EXPO, Specialised Exhibitors has this year introduced Facilities Management Expo as another co-located show alongside Securex and A-OSH.
“The combination of three shows under one roof broadens the scope for exhibitors and visitors, providing the opportunity to network and do business together,” says trade show organiser Specialised Exhibitions Montgomery portfolio director Sven Smit.
He adds that during the event, the Securex Cyber Pavilion 2019 will be launched, providing visitors with an additional cybersecurity-focused stream of content.
Smit explains that the Securex 2019 free-to-attend seminar theatre will feature about 20 topical sessions, with presentations including ‘Revolutionising the unexplored potential of artificial intelligence’ by electronic security solutions provider SNIPR South Africa director of sales and marketing Dave Rampersad, ‘Unlocking value for the security industry’ by finance solutions company Security Finance account manager Nicolette Maree, ‘Protecting supply chains and associated threats to business and the economy’ by international body dedicated to the prevention of cargo crime TAPA SA chairperson Andre Du Venage, ‘Decrease fire risks: Cultivating a culture of wise choices’ by South African Qualification & Certification Committee, or SAQCC, Fire vice chairperson Duncan Boyes, and ‘Access control via your smartphone’ by specialist fastener solutions provider Astra Fasteners director Andrew Williams.
Smit explains that, owing to the increasing crime statistics in South Africa, business end-users are looking for new technologies and initiatives to protect their data, property, equipment and employees.
He further highlights that South Africa has one of the largest private security industries globally, with low barriers of entry for companies looking to join the marketplace. This leads to an increased need for regulation and a greater need for compliance.
An additional sector shift affecting the local security market is the fact that physical and cybersecurity are converging – something that has been highlighted by the changing face of Securex over the past few years – with the combination of cyber and physical defences becoming a non-negotiable addition to enterprise security systems.
“The exponential adoption of the Internet of Things, in particular . . . has made it necessary for security experts to consider the correlations between physical and cybersecurity, including the shared risk factors and the shared protective measures that can be taken,” notes Smit.
The reality is that cybersecurity breaches can also affect a company’s physical infrastructure with so many connected devices – from closed-circuit television to heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems and garden sprinklers – in the workplace and home, he adds.
“Trade exhibitions remain the most cost-effective way for a business to access a specific target market in the shortest time. It also enables visitors and businesses to source and compare products and services in the field,” he concludes.