If Safe Harbour sounds like a codename for 007’s new HQ in Spectre, then someone best tell James his cover’s been blown right out of the water.
The European Court of Justice has delivered a bombshell ruling that the 2000 Safe Harbor agreement between the European Union and America is invalid.
The decision could force thousands of American companies to change the way they treat the personal data of EU users, customers and staff.
Harbour had allowed them to “self-certify” they will protect data and governed cloud computing when firms pay service providers to host large amounts of customer data.
The court is worried about “mass indiscriminate surveillance and interception” by the US authorities.
As the transatlantic legal teams get set to battle it out, certain personnel in the IT industry have stayed on mission – continuing their round-the-clock work to keep our data safe on land, sea and in transit, whatever side of the pond we’re on.
And in the war against data leaks and theft – not from just the US government but from everybody who shouldn’t have it – the general is undoubtedly the Chief Information Security Officer (CSIO).
This is the IT guru who puts the I in Iron and the T in Titanium: this is heavy metal, rock solid security we’re talking here.
In any organisation the CISO is responsible for establishing and maintaining the enterprise vision, strategy and program to ensure information assets and technologies are protected.
Of course, like any General he is rarely on the frontline.
This terrain belongs to an army of IT professionals, working together yet individually intent on fulfilling their own role to protect and serve.
The list is endless, with the inevitable crossover areas where jobs involve multi-roles, but consists of the IT Security Consultant, Risk Analyst and Information Risk Officer.
Let’s not forget, however, that many IT roles don’t wear a badge – yet are very much involved in security.
A Software Tester, for instance, will be involved in numberless possible tests for even the most simple software components.
And, although software testing normally attempts to execute a program or application with the intent of finding software bugs, testing can also provide independent information not just about the quality of software but also its susceptibility.
The Project Manager, meanwhile, is responsible for delivering software solutions that are not only up to the client’s exacting standards but also their security requirements. Using detailed knowledge of proven methodologies, the role can involve testing not only the product but associated business processes.
It also means providing strong leadership to ensure that all other roles – such as IT Security Engineers and Architects, as well as IT Risk Analysts and Data Security Managers – are all delivering their own parts of the package.
It remains to be seen whether Safe Harbour will survive the EU ruling but, come hell or high water, what is certain is an entire army of IT professionals will always be on high alert and in high demand.
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