2024-11-23 –, Ngaio Marsh Theatre
The importance of making more sustainable choices in our daily activities is now deeply embedded within our social practices and is a core part of what we teach our children. Indeed, most modern businesses have ‘green’ policies that underpin regarding how they source products and services, consume energy, and dispose of waste. A good example of this is the growth of the use of highly automated Internet-connected building management systems within the construction of environmentally friendly homes and commercial buildings.
Dropping down to the consumer-level, many individuals are also increasingly embracing green technologies in terms of how they live their lives. We are seeing a massively increased usage of electric and hybrid vehicles, e-bikes, IoT-enabled electrified public transport, smart bulbs, and solar-powered Internet-enabled security cameras.
However, on closer review, many critical security vulnerability and privacy assurance mechanisms are absent within these increasingly autonomous technologies. Many green tech companies are working on cutting-edge technologies that have not yet been thoroughly tested or implemented on a large scale.
This could lead to situations where, if a malicious actor took over an intelligent thermostat or door-locking mechanism, they could create an internal climate which was excessively hot or cold, or remotely disarm a premises door locking mechanisms. Scenarios such as this have physical safety implications for building occupants. They also have serious reputational harm implications for the business owners associated with these green buildings.
This session will cover off:
o What are current and emerging examples of green technology,
o Cyber threats facing green technologies today, and what the commercial and personal impact can be,
o Recent examples of green technology compromises,
o What remediation options are available to address cyber security risks within green technologies,
o Remediation implementation: how a partnership-based approach is the best way forward, and
o How cyber security professionals can work with green technology consumers and vendors to address this growing trend.
Nick joined the Bastion Security Group in December 2021 and is based in Dunedin.
However, he has over 18 years’ security experience in both private and public sector organisations.
Nick’s area of expertise are in:
• cyber security ‘thought-leadership’,
• cyber security governance,
• virtual Chief Information Security Officer engagements,
• undertaking cyber security risk and maturity assessments,
• cyber strategy and policy development,
• cyber security work-program development,
• cyber security supply chain management,
• executive cyber security support,
• cyber security user awareness training delivery,
• cyber security in the health sector,
• cyber risk management across the lifecycle of digitally-enabled medical devices, and
• cyber security in the financial services sector.
Key cyber security leadership roles Nick held prior to joining Bastion Security were:
• Chief Cyber Security Adviser: Ministry of Health (MoH); and
• Team Leader - Outreach & Engagement: National Cyber Security Centre.
From a health sector context, Nick’s role at MoH was responsible for driving an increase in the cyber security maturity of the whole of the New Zealand health and disability sector (public and private).
Nick also has many other achievements he is proud of, which can be seen below:
• Navigator Professional Leadership Programme: Outward Bound (2016),
• New Leaders Development Programme: Melbourne Business School (2018),
• NZITF conference speaker (2022),
• Institute of Directors Company Director’s Course (2023), and
• Christchurch Hacker’s Conference speaker (2023).