Defending the human network (Dr. Jessica Barker)
Channel: Codegram
Date: 29/09/2017

Talk given at Full Stack Fest 2017: https://fullstackfest.com

Human behaviour is widely understood to be the weakest link when it comes to cyber security and data loss. Organisations are spending more time and money on awareness-raising of their staff, and yet the impact of these awareness campaigns is often low and short-lived. In this session, Dr Jessica Barker will use sociological and psychological research, as well as real-life examples, to unpick how we can develop more resilience in the human network. The session will explore why it is not just what you do, but how you do it, if you want to create and deliver the kind of cyber security culture that leads to positive behavioural change.

Dr Jessica Barker is a leader in the human nature of cyber security. Having run her own cyber security consultancy for over 4 years, Jessica recently co-founded Redacted Firm, where she is engaged by organisations of all sizes, from multi-national firms to SMEs. Jessica is known for her clear communication style and for making cyber security accessible to all. Jessica’s consultancy experience, technical knowledge and sociology background equip her with unique insight, and she has a talent for translating technical messages to a non-technical audience. Her clients include multi-national banks and financial institutions, international defence corporations and governments, and retail, health and commercial entities.

Jessica delivers thought-provoking and engaging presentations across the world, at corporate events as well as practitioner and academic conferences. Known for her ability to engage everyone from senior executives to ethical hackers and creative workers, she brings energy, enthusiasm and fun to cyber security. Her speaking engagements are rooted in the work she does around the psychology and sociology of cyber security, particularly regarding cyber security threats, social engineering, how to effectively communicate cyber security messages, the psychology of fear and cyber security, and the language of cyber security. Her specialisms span cyber security awareness, behaviour and culture.

Jessica’s many appearances discussing cyber security on national and international TV and Radio have cemented her place as the media’s go-to expert on subjects that require graceful, clear and engaging communication of technical subjects. She frequently appears on the BBC, Sky News, Channel 4 News, Channel 5 News, Radio 4’s Today programme, Radio 2’s Jeremy Vine show and more. She has been published in the Sunday Times and the Guardian, and frequently in industry press.

In her spare time, Jessica is passionate about encouraging young people to become more engaged with cyber security, for example working with TeenTech and the UK’s Cyber Security Challenge. She is regularly commissioned to write cyber security blog posts, and runs the website www.cyber.uk, dedicated to cyber security news, information and guidance.