Today’s approach to security –
whether for public or private areas, physical or virtual
spaces – is changing. Globalization of the economy,
digitalization of information, virtualization of identities
and transactions, and acceleration in the rate of information
exchange are blurring the barriers that enterprises
and governments have built. The Global Security Forum
will bring together key government and industry representatives
for a comprehensive agenda focusing on the holistic
approach to security necessary to combat the emerging
threats brought on by these modernizing forces.
Protecting
People
In light of the heightened worldwide
security concerns stemming from international
terrorism, financial fraud and identity theft,
the solutions available continue to evolve as
the global security industry strives to create
a safer environment for citizens. Biometric watchlists,
automatic face recognition and explosives detection
equipment represent just a few of the many solutions
that are supplementing traditional surveillance
and access control solutions. Perhaps the greatest
technology shift today, however, is the digitalization
of travel documents.
Protecting
Property
A comprehensive portfolio of
security technologies is essential for protecting
both physical and digital assets and their owner’s
rights. This is particularly evident in the corporate
environment, where high-tech employee credentials
– the modern key to both the physical and
digital office environment – have been developed
to guarantee secure access to premises and IT
networks. Used also for vending machines, cafeterias,
libraries, and other services, today’s employee
credentials have become an integrated business
tool.
Protecting
Know-How
With an estimated 5-7% of world
trade involving counterfeit goods, this problem
affects nearly every product category –
from software, music CDs, pharmaceuticals and
luxury goods to engineering components such as
aircraft parts and medical equipment. There is
an increasing demand from governments and public
institutions, as well as organizations representing
manufacturers, distributors, retailers and consumers,
for traceability programs within the global supply
chain which can protect public health, prevent
fraud and guarantee product quality.
4
Hot Topics As the first electronic
MRTDs (Machine Readable Travel Documents)
reach travelers’ pockets, the hot
issues that will be addressed at this year’s
Electronic Passport Forum
are:
Sustainability
The adoption of state-of-theart security
solutions involves an important financial
commitment by any government. Both
technological choices and legislation
greatly influence the ROI of such
projects. In order to demonstrate
their long-term sustainability, studies
need to be carried out to determine
the full economic impact of these
systems. The current transition from
traditional passports to ePassports
is an emblematic case of a high cost
national security project.
Privacy
In the information age, the security
vs. privacy debate is more heated
than ever before. A number of technologies
and best practices can be applied
to address the privacy concerns emerging
as a consequence of the deployment
of modern security infrastructures.
The objective is to ensure that the
“digital dust” we leave
behind with every electronic transaction
performed during security controls
doesn’t turn to dirt.
Integration
In today’s law enforcement scenario,
policing agencies carry out a great
variety of security controls across
borders and industries. They utilize
numerous data management systems and
technologies while communicating with
a wide range of players – the
travel industry, financial
institutions, and other government
agencies. It is also necessary to
create and document specifications
guaranteeing harmonized and interoperable
solutions are being implemented.
Law
Enforcement
Technology plays an essential role
in supporting the efforts of law enforcement
agencies to secure our society’s
safety. The ability of these agencies
to unequivocally identify people and
assets when carrying out security
controls is vital if they are to act
effectively and quickly. The challenge
is in establishing effective legislation
and providing police authorities with
the infrastructure and training to
fight criminals while preserving the
rights of citizens.
