This year’s cyber-security Conference, on December 9 at the Lancaster House Hotel, will explore the business opportunities that relate to the cyber security market, with a particular focus on the ‘Internet of Things’ and ‘Smart Cities’.

The UK economy is heavily reliant on digital technology and this is set to increase with the advent of smart city technologies. The cyber threat is widely recognised with reports identifying threats to SME’s on the increase; 87 per cent suffered a breach in the last year - the average cost of the worst incident being between £35k and £65k.

A recent report from BIS has shown that the UK cyber security market is one of the most buoyant. The UK market is estimated to be £2.8 billion in 2013 and is expected to grow to £3.4 billion in 2017.

Therefore, it becomes vital for the vitality of the UK economy that SMEs both protect themselves from cyber threats and also take advantage of a rapidly expanding market for products and services.

Dr Daniel Prince, Associate Director and Business Partnerships Manager for Security Lancaster, said: “There has, quite rightly, been a considerable focus in recent years on the increased number of threats that exist on the Internet.

“As more and more of our lives, and particularly as more of the surrounding infrastructure we rely on in the environments we live, become connected to the Internet, then it becomes even more important for individuals, businesses and organisations to ensure they are prepared to fend off attacks.

“However, this also leads to opportunities for businesses to create solutions to tackle these threats. We will use the conference as a chance to highlight where these opportunities may lie.”

The conference will hear from experts including academics from Lancaster University’s Security Lancaster – an EPSRC-GCHQ Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research; senior police officers; officials from key Government departments including the Department of Business Innovation and Skills, and UK Trade and Investment.

Speakers at the conference include:

• Dr Daniel Prince – Lancaster University's Security Lancaster

• Tony Dyhouse – ICT KTN

• Tony Wilson - Indelible Data

• Professor Awais Rashid – Security Lancaster

• Charles Jacobson – UK Trade and Investment

• DS Geoff Conway - Police Central e-Crime Unit - North West

• Giles Smith - Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

• Professor Nigel Davies – Lancaster University's School of Computing and Communications

The conference will also include an exhibition space for exhibitors relevant to the conference’s themes.

The conference is being funded by Security Lancaster, the School of Computing and Communications, the ICT KTN and the Department for Business Innovation and Skills.

Tony Dyhouse, of ICT KTN Ltd, said: “I am delighted to be working once again with Lancaster University to host this year's cyber security conference..

“This event has proved both popular and influential for the last two years and provided valuable information on the views and attitudes of SMEs to business risks posed by cyber threat. The resultant reports were influential across a wide range of stakeholders, including UK government.”

Businesses interesting in attending the Cyber Security Conference 2013 can register here: http://www.security-centre.lancs.ac.uk/events/register/001226/cyber-security-conference-2013

For more information about Cyber Security Conference 2013 visit http://www.security-centre.lancs.ac.uk/events/conferences/csc2013.php#