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Disappointing to read that analysts believe that data losses will be even higher in 2009. There is clearly much that remains to be done.

In the public sector the key drivers are seen as being a combination of achieving Government Connect status, adhering to PCI DSS compliance requirements and to implementing the requirements following the Data Handling Review (DHR). I am more than capable of assisting in all of these activities.

The private sector, particularly the more it is outsourced to and provides services to the public sector, by proxy faces the same challenges and so the same frameworks in relation to Information Assurance apply.

A calendar of her whereabouts for the year is available here SPS Year Planner 09 - it contains reference to various ongoing projects and responsibilities and is a work in progress. If a day appears blank, then it is likely to be available on a "first come, first served" basis. If you have a requirement that you would like me to be involved in, please do get in touch via email on info@simmonsprofessionalservices.co.uk - there's always room for flexibility.

PROFILE - COMPLIANCE/INFORMATION SECURITY CONSULTANT

AFFILIATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS

Andrea Simmons, CISSP, CISM, MBCS CITP, M.Inst.ISP, BS7799 LA, BA (Mod) Hons, DHP (NC)

Andrea is founder and director of Simmons Professional Services. Andrea has been building up her own compliance consultancy business over the last five years. 2008 included diversification into Professional Development consultancy work - in recognition of the IT industry focus on the requirement to evidence and maintain professionalism. 2008 held more writing of articles, chairing of seminars and putting together a chapter for a book on Resilience. 2009 will see the publication of a 50,000 word report on "Achieving best practice in Information Security in the Public Sector".

2007 saw some consolidation of effort as she took on the role of Security Forum Manager for the British Computer Society (www.bcs.org/security). The Security Forum seeks to focus on security issues at a strategic level and provides thought leadership for the industry.

Andrea also works associatively with Socitm Consulting and Socitm Learning (www.socitm.gov.uk), in the public sector and Amtec (www.amtec.co.uk) in the private sector.

With a degree in Philosophy/Music and a diploma in Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy, Andrea’s expertise is in the human side of information management in business. She has been consulting with household name companies and public and private sector organisations on the human issues involved in Information Security Awareness training programmes, their development and effective delivery. Andrea believes passionately that more thought needs to be put into better ways of encouraging employee buy-in with regard to securing information holistically rather than only focusing on the IT Department as the hub of all information activities. This is particularly key with the more recent focus on Information/Corporate Governance, where the quality of information share is both crucially and legally important.

Alongside the security strands - attaining the Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP) and Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) accreditations, Andrea has also successfully undertaken the BS7799 Lead Auditor course (as was). Andrea has successfully undertaken both the British Computer Society/ISEB Certificate in Freedom of Information and the Certificate in Data Protection and is registered on the DP Experts Directory. She is also an active member of the BCS and its’ relevant specialist groups – Security, Audit, Law – has been accepted onto the BCS Register of Security Specialists.

Copies of past presentations are available upon request. Please contact Andrea via email on info@simmonsprofessionalservices.co.uk

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