Who watches the watchers? – Information governance in the Public Sector
The Roman poet Juvenal first raised this concern in his Latin phrase: quis custodiet ipsos custodies? This suggests that the challenge of who watches the watchers is a dilemma that society has grappled with for many centuries.
Why do I raise it here? The news that there has been over 500,000 requests to access phone and email records by public sector organisations in 2008. When you do the maths that is 1 in every 78 adults who is potentially under scrutiny by authorities using the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA).
As with all matters concerning security, there is a fine line that all organisations tread between ensuring they are fully compliant and stepping over the line into intrusion on matters of individual privacy.
That is why it is important that all public sector organisations are on top of the requirements for effective information assurance and security as articulated in the National Information Assurance Strategy (NIAS) issued by the Cabinet Office Central Sponsor for Information Assurance (CSIA).
Microsoft UK is running our second Public Sector Information Governance and Security Conference in London on Wednesday September 30th where you can get fully up-to-speed on the latest developments in NIAS and how Microsoft is helping public sector organisations with their information security.
We shall have presentations from the Cabinet Office CSIA, Microsoft security experts and our customers who will all provide a strategic perspective on how to deliver more effective information governance across the Public Sector with practical advice on how to ensure that your people, processes and technology know what they need to know and do to ensure your organisation is fully compliant with the NIAS requirements.
You can find out more and to register your place at the Microsoft Public Sector Information Governance and Security Conference 2009. The invitation code to enter when prompted is D54099.
Posted by Ian