Security threats increase demand for protection

With internet security attacks on the increase and events such as the BT cabling tunnel fire in Manchester, IT security and disaster recovery skills are in demand. There is now growing support for a British Standard on business continuity. Such a standard would demonstrate to customers that their suppliers had an adequate business continuity plan and tested it regularly to make sure it will work when needed to ensure an uninterrupted service. Meanwhile, high-powered groups such as the Security Alliance for the Internet (Saint) and the government's Information Insurance Initiative are discussing how best to improve training, standards and qualifications among IT security professionals.

And even those companies that have outsourced their IT overseas need staff to check that software developed offshore meets security standards.

David Lacy, director of security and risk management technology, services and innovation at the Royal Mail Group, said the organisation has had to develop "internal audits" to check offshore-developed software can meet "in-house quality standards."

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