ASIS’ Western New Jersey Chapter was privileged to host associates from Aurora Information Security & Risk, an experienced risk management consulting firm specializing in Information Technology. Douglas Ferguson, Aurora Co-founder, conducted a presentation entitled “Protecting What Matters”. Mr. Ferguson’s program highlighted his experience as an information security officer for a major global banking organization and a technology security consultant. He outlined a common tendency in many organizations to implement security countermeasures in “silos”, to lose sight of the primary goal of any security program (protecting the enterprise), and to leave significant gaps in coverage. He identified a common tendency towards over-reliance on technology and systems, misaligned expenditures and efforts, and a frequent inability to grasp threats and vulnerabilities affecting large organizations.

Using analogies and real-world examples, he went on to outline a solution for ensuring confidentiality, integrity and compliance, and to ensure that investments in security technology deliver an effective return on investment by identifying key performance indicators (KPIs) and tying physical and logical security countermeasures to organizational business values. He also shared strategies on how to garner C-level support for threat reduction measures, and for ensuring that security gain recognition as valued members of their organizations.

About Douglas Ferguson:

Douglas is a co-founder of Aurora Information Security & Risk, where he is responsible for European operations, Aurora e3, and strategy and assurance architecture. Prior to Aurora, Doug was with Barclays Bank in London, where he was Global Head of Security Controls Assessment, Penetration Testing, and Firewalls, and delivered services to clients in more than 30 countries. Previously, Doug was a Managing Consultant at Internet Security Systems, which was subsequently purchased by IBM. While at IBM/ISS, Doug was a member of the acclaimed ISS X-Force research and development team, and developed extensive skills in critical infrastructure, SCADA, control strategy, design and implementation, and information security governance. He was co-creator of the breakthrough System Scanner technology. Doug’s early experience in the information security industry was with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. A featured speaker at numerous industry conferences, Doug was educated in Computer Sciences at the University of Waterloo, in the heart of Canada’s Technology Triangle. Based in London, he is a Canadian national with dual citizenships: Canada and the United Kingdom. [Adopted from www.aurorasecurity.com]

Contact Information:
Matthew Ferrante
Douglas Ferguson
45 Rockefeller Center
630 Fifth Avenue, 20th Floor
New York, NY 10020
+1 212 537 9397
+1 800 470 0988
info@aurorasecurity.com
www.aurorasecurity.com

For additional information on Aurora Security, please download the attached slides and notes from the presentation- see link below.

ASIS West NJ Chapter meeting included a presentation by Mr. Bob Armando, Founding Partner of K Street Associates, LLC. The K Street Group, LLC is a fully licensed and bonded private security and protective services group with headquarters in New York and New Jersey with wholly owned subsidiaries and affiliates across the United States and abroad.

At the April 12 meeting, Mr. Aromando detailed his team’s experiences providing security and protective services to a US-based news crew in Haiti in the immediate aftermath of the January, 2010 Earthquake. Mr. Aromando recounted the challenges of arranging transportation, shelter and provisions for a sophisticated news operation in a region affected by a significant natural disaster. Also detailed were the logistical methods, technology and social resources expended in ensuring a successful operation whose duration exceeded expectations.