The Chief Executives’ Forum partnered with CGI, one of the world’s largest independent IT and business consulting firms, to deliver a practical briefing on cyber security leadership in the public service.
The interactive two-hour session took a back-to-basics approach, designed specifically for senior leaders who may not be cyber security specialists but who hold responsibility for organisational resilience.
The session focused on building confidence rather than technical expertise, exploring the current cyber threat landscape in clear business terms, examining real-world case studies from public service cyber incidents in Scotland, and highlighting the key lessons for leaders. Participants also considered the simple, practical actions that can prevent cyber incidents or reduce their impact.
A key message throughout the event was that cyber security is a leadership responsibility. Attendees were reminded that most cyber incidents do not result from highly sophisticated attacks, but rather from failures to implement basic cyber security measures consistently and effectively.
Gary Fildes (CGI UK) provided an overview of the current threat landscape, explained why cyber security matters to leaders, and outlined practical actions that strengthen organisational resilience.
Participants also took part in an interactive cyber exercise, testing their decision-making skills in a simulated cyber incident scenario.
Keith McDevitt (Cyber Scotland) shared insights from recent public sector cyber incidents, including high-impact case studies and the key leadership lessons that emerged from them.
The session equipped attendees with the knowledge and confidence to lead, challenge and prioritise cyber security effectively within their organisations.