ScotlandIS Cyber

ScotlandIS has partnered with the Bayes Centre, University of Edinburgh, to launch a new in-person weekly community for technology startup founders.

The ‘Founders Hub’ will consist of a co-working community hosted at the Centre, where ScotlandIS early-stage and startup members can connect to learn, collaborate, support and inspire one another.

This space will be available every Friday on a first-come, first-served basis, with some discussion on what the format of the community should be and what setup would be useful to founders going forward.

This is a new network of tech builders and startup leaders within Scotland’s technology sector, of many experience levels. It is for people that want to grow their business and do so alongside others. For people looking to be around like minded individuals – to help and offer help, building better together.

While this is a member benefit for ScotlandIS members, we also welcome early stage tech companies looking to get involved with the wider ScotlandIS network.

Come along from 9:30am on Fridays at the ground floor of the Bayes Centre. If you have any questions, get in touch via marketing@scotlandis.com.

In today’s global landscape, innovation is more than a buzzword—it’s the engine of national competitiveness. In this forward-looking keynote, Professor Dr. Howard Rubin, a renowned technology advisor and data-driven strategist, explores how countries, governments, and organisations can make innovation tangible and actionable in an increasingly technology-driven economy.

Drawing on his academic background and three decades of global advisory work and data analysis, Professor Rubin challenges outdated industrial-age models and introduces a forward-thinking framework for understanding performance in the digital era. He shares breakthrough insights into the dynamics of innovation and the global technology economy.

The session explores how information technology invention and innovation have become driving forces behind productivity, performance, and economic leadership—and why nations must act now to build innovation-ready infrastructures, policies, and strategies.

Looking ahead, Professor Rubin outlines what it will take to compete in the coming quantum era and why compute capacity, digital sovereignty, and emerging tech investments are now central to national strategy.

Whether you’re shaping policy, leading a business, or steering a mission-driven organisation, this keynote offers valuable insights to help accelerate progress in the technology economy.

Too often building success in technology is attributed to ‘moving fast and breaking things’, despite the cost.

Sidrah Hassan is an AI Ethicist who explores the topics of innovation and governance in the context of AI systems and technologies. This talk highlights the consequences and harms that can happen when governance is traded for innovation.

The talk explains how AI ethics and governance go hand in hand with innovation in order for companies to build lasting success for their customers and organisations.

This webinar is taking place as part of Scotland’s National Innovation Week, from 22nd – 26th September.

A full-day event for technical professionals and leaders in the sector. As one of Scotland’s biggest software conferences for over 25 years, ScotSoft allows you to connect, learn, and innovate while meeting new talent at the Young Software Engineer of the Year Awards.

This year, the event offers an unparalleled opportunity to gain invaluable insights from industry leaders, collaborate with peers, and explore the latest industry trends.

Stay tuned as more speakers and our evening’s entertainment act are revealed!

Click the ‘Learn More’ link below for more details.

ScotlandIS Turns 25

ScotlandIS has partnered with the Bayes Centre, University of Edinburgh, to launch a new in-person weekly community for technology startup founders.

The ‘Founders Hub’ will consist of a co-working community hosted at the Centre, where ScotlandIS early-stage and startup members can connect to learn, collaborate, support and inspire one another.

This space will be available every Friday on a first-come, first-served basis, with some discussion on what the format of the community should be and what setup would be useful to founders going forward.

This is a new network of tech builders and startup leaders within Scotland’s technology sector, of many experience levels. It is for people that want to grow their business and do so alongside others. For people looking to be around like minded individuals – to help and offer help, building better together.

While this is a member benefit for ScotlandIS members, we also welcome early stage tech companies looking to get involved with the wider ScotlandIS network.

Come along from 9:30am on Fridays at the ground floor of the Bayes Centre. If you have any questions, get in touch via marketing@scotlandis.com.

Data is everywhere – and the ways in which we’re collecting, processing and utilising it are constantly evolving, while regulation and governance best practice struggles to keep up.

And as AI becomes increasingly omnipresent, the need to empower innovation while keeping on top of risk is vital.

In our next data and cyber conference experts from across the firm will be joined by industry leaders to explore some of the upcoming issues in data use, what opportunities the increase in data and related technologies brings for both businesses and the Scottish economy, and some of the key changes in the regulatory landscape to look out for.

Sessions will include:

• The future of data and AI governance: A panel session of industry experts from across sectors will discuss how they are navigating the regulatory environment and getting the most out of data and AI in a tech environment.
• Sustainability in the digital age: We’ll explore some of the environmental considerations around using AI – with some surprising insights.
• Data centres: Challenges and opportunities for Scotland and the UK, including the future of AI growth zones.
• Protecting your data and digital assets in the afterlife: A look at what you need to do to ensure your online estate is taken care of after you pass – including some factors you probably haven’t thought about!
• Fireside chat with the ICO: In this session we’ll explore what the ICO regards as lessons to be learned from previous cases. We’ll cover some of the trends in recent data breaches, and find out what the ICO considers when assessing an incident.

The conference will be useful for anyone who deals with data governance as part of their role including regulatory and compliance teams, in-house lawyers, IT directors, privacy, cyber and AI professionals and others with an interest in data.

Conference sessions from 9.30am – 1.15pm followed by networking lunch.

Join our series of events, ScotlandIS Tech Tidbits, on the first Tuesday of every month!

These 30 minute webinars will be short, informative sessions on a variety of topics, from exporting to cybersecurity, cloud computing to procurement, and many more.

Each event will feature a ScotlandIS member offering their expert insights and advice on the topic in hand, however you do not need to be a member to attend these talks.

To recognise Cyber Security Awareness Month in October, we’re holding one Tidbit each week on a cyber-related topic.

For our first October event, we’ll be joined by Stephen Murphy, Enterprise Account Manager at Quest.

Imagine you’re in a room full of mismatched spreadsheets, each one insisting it knows who “Customer 123” is, but none of them agree. That’s where Stephen’s story begins. He’ll walk you through the moment Quest finally said “Enough!” and ran their data only to discover they had been carrying around 127 duplicate fields like extra luggage.

Next comes the secret weapon, a lineage-hunting bot that mapped every column in minutes and gave Quest the confidence to launch a dashboard people actually wanted to use. Along the way Stephen will stay honest with three gut-check questions: Does it bring value? Can it last? Is it doable? He will finish with a quick look at AI that can sketch data models on the fly, and leave you with one dare: go home, retire one dusty report, and start making your data lovable.

Join our series of events, ScotlandIS Tech Tidbits, on the first Tuesday of every month!

These 30 minute webinars will be short, informative sessions on a variety of topics, from exporting to cybersecurity, cloud computing to procurement, and many more.

Each event will feature a ScotlandIS member offering their expert insights and advice on the topic in hand, however you do not need to be a member to attend these talks.

To recognise Cyber Security Awareness Month in October, we’re holding one Tidbit each week on a cyber-related topic.

For Week Two, we’ll be looking at how emerging technology is shaping the future of cyber in the finance sector, with guest speaker Derek Whigham, Chief Security Office Business Platform Lead at Lloyds Banking Group.

With cyberspace becoming ever more dangerous and threat actor techniques becoming increasingly sophisticated, what does the future of cyber security look like for financial services, and what are LBG doing to protect UK Financial Services?

This talk will examine key trends that are shaping the current cyber landscape, emerging technology that is revolutionising cyber threat defence, as well as an example of how LBG are leveraging Agentic AI and Machine Learning to innovatively strengthen its threat hunting capabilities before closing with a number of industry predictions for the next 12 months.

Join our series of events, ScotlandIS Tech Tidbits, on the first Tuesday of every month!

These 30 minute webinars will be short, informative sessions on a variety of topics, from exporting to cybersecurity, cloud computing to procurement, and many more.

Each event will feature a ScotlandIS member offering their expert insights and advice on the topic in hand, however you do not need to be a member to attend these talks.

To recognise Cyber Security Awareness Month in October, we’re holding one Tidbit each week on a cyber-related topic.

For Week Three, we’ll be helping you take a look at your cyber security from a new perspective, with guest speaker Ross McKelvie, CEO of Swordbreaker.

Join us as we go beyond the compliance checkboxes to shape your thinking about the real threats to your business and operations, from ransomware gangs to hostile nation states.

Book your place to join us in October to ensure you’re prepared.

Join our series of events, ScotlandIS Tech Tidbits, on the first Tuesday of every month!

These 30 minute webinars will be short, informative sessions on a variety of topics, from exporting to cybersecurity, cloud computing to procurement, and many more.

Each event will feature a ScotlandIS member offering their expert insights and advice on the topic in hand, however you do not need to be a member to attend these talks.

To recognise Cyber Security Awareness Month in October, we’re holding one Tidbit each week on a cyber-related topic.

For Week Four, we’ll be joined by guest speakers from Burness Paull, to discuss understanding around legal privilege involved in managing a cyber incident.

They’ll cover in more detail how privilege is relevant to cyber incident, an overview of different forms of privilege, how to preserve privilege and how not to waive it, concluding with a summary of the key Do’s and Don’ts.

Imperative for organisations looking to inform themselves of the legal implications surrounding a cyber attack – book your place to join us in October to ensure you’re prepared.

Join our new series of events, ScotlandIS Tech Tidbits, on the first Tuesday of every month!

These 30 minute webinars will be short, informative sessions on a variety of topics, from exporting to cybersecurity, cloud computing to procurement, and many more.

Each event will feature a ScotlandIS member offering their expert insights and advice on the topic in hand, however you do not need to be a member to attend these talks.

For November, we’ll be joined by guest speaker Kathryn Strachan, a marketer, business advisor and author.

AI isn’t just for marketing copy. It can transform how startups solve real business problems. In this session, you’ll learn how to use AI tools like ChatGPT to tackle critical challenges such as extending runway, reducing churn, designing pricing experiments, and improving operational efficiency.

Through real-world examples and live exercises, we’ll show you how to turn vague questions into powerful prompts that deliver insights, action plans, and data-driven decisions for your business.

As cybersecurity professionals, we operate in a high-stakes environment where evolving threats and the responsibility of protecting critical systems demand constant vigilance. This relentless pressure, coupled with the weight of potential consequences, significantly erodes performance and compromises cyber resilience.

The 24/7 nature of our work, driven by the fear of missing a critical threat or experiencing a major breach, creates an overwhelming workload. This sustained stress directly impacts cognitive function, which can lead to critical errors in judgment, missed security indicators, and an ongoing struggle to maintain focus and vigilance. Ultimately, this diminishes individual and team effectiveness, making us more vulnerable to cyberattacks.

This workshop will address these critical challenges, emphasising why managing mental wellbeing is fundamental to our overall cyber resilience — at individual, team, and organisational levels.

Event Objectives:

• Raise Awareness: Highlight the scale of mental health challenges in the industry and the psychosocial hazards which commonly cause stress at work.

• Promote Self-Care: Equip participants with practical self-care strategies to enhance individual mental well-being and, by extension, performance.

• Foster Team Support: Provide leaders with strategies to support team well?being, strengthening collective resilience.

• Reduce Stigma: Foster safe spaces for open discussion on mental health to reduce the stigma surrounding seeking help.

• Industry Focus: Update on the work of the Mental Health in Cyber Security Foundation (MHinCS Foundation) and its Charter.

Start your cyber resilience journey today: Help your third sector organisation stay safe online.

Charities are using digital systems every day to deliver their services and keep in touch but with this capability comes a level of risk.

Join us for an engaging half-day event tailored specifically for third sector organisations looking to help their organisation stay safe online. This event is designed to give you the tools, knowledge, and connections to boost your cyber resilience.

Who should attend?

Anyone working and/or volunteering for a third sector organisation in Scotland at the beginning of their cyber resilience journey, and maybe not sure where to start, who provides leadership and/or is responsible for aspects of operations/IT.

What’s on the agenda?

Improve Cyber Awareness Anyone working and/or volunteering for a third sector organisation in Scotland at the beginning of their cyber resilience journey, and maybe not sure where to start, who provides leadership and/or is responsible for aspects of operations/IT. Learn steps to enhance your organisation’s understanding of cyber risks and how to stay vigilant.

Interactive Workshop: Build Your Cyber Incident Response Plan Get hands-on experience creating a tailored plan to ensure your organisation is prepared to respond effectively to cyber incidents.

One-to-One ‘Meet the Experts’ Sessions Sit down with cyber experts to discuss personalised steps you can make for improving your organisation’s cyber resilience.

Lunch & Networking Enjoy a relaxed lunch while connecting with like-minded professionals from the third sector. Share experiences, challenges, and solutions as you strengthen your network.

Don’t miss this opportunity to take the first steps towards a safer, more secure organisation. Together, we can build a resilient third sector, equipped to thrive in the face of digital challenges.

Agenda

1200 – 1230: Arrival, registration

1230 – 1245: Welcome and intro

1245 – 1330: How to improve your cyber resilience 

1330 – 1430: Networking lunch with 1:1 sessions running alongside 

1430 – 1515: Build your incident response plan

1515 – 1600: Closing remarks/event close

Start your cyber resilience journey today: Help your third sector organisation stay safe online.

Charities are using digital systems every day to deliver their services and keep in touch but with this capability comes a level of risk.

Join us for an engaging half-day event tailored specifically for third sector organisations looking to help their organisation stay safe online. This event is designed to give you the tools, knowledge, and connections to boost your cyber resilience.

Who should attend?

Anyone working and/or volunteering for a third sector organisation in Scotland at the beginning of their cyber resilience journey, and maybe not sure where to start, who provides leadership and/or is responsible for aspects of operations/IT.

What’s on the agenda?

Improve Cyber Awareness Anyone working and/or volunteering for a third sector organisation in Scotland at the beginning of their cyber resilience journey, and maybe not sure where to start, who provides leadership and/or is responsible for aspects of operations/IT. Learn steps to enhance your organisation’s understanding of cyber risks and how to stay vigilant.

Interactive Workshop: Build Your Cyber Incident Response Plan Get hands-on experience creating a tailored plan to ensure your organisation is prepared to respond effectively to cyber incidents.

One-to-One ‘Meet the Experts’ Sessions Sit down with cyber experts to discuss personalised steps you can make for improving your organisation’s cyber resilience.

Lunch & Networking Enjoy a relaxed lunch while connecting with like-minded professionals from the third sector. Share experiences, challenges, and solutions as you strengthen your network.

Don’t miss this opportunity to take the first steps towards a safer, more secure organisation. Together, we can build a resilient third sector, equipped to thrive in the face of digital challenges.

Agenda

1300 – 1330: Arrival, registration

1330 – 1345: Welcome and intro

1345 – 1430: How to improve your cyber resilience 

1430 – 1530: Networking lunch with 1:1 sessions running alongside 

1530 – 1615: Build your incident response plan

1615 – 1700: Closing remarks/event close

Join our new series of events, ScotlandIS Tech Tidbits, on the first Tuesday of every month!

These 30 minute webinars will be short, informative sessions on a variety of topics, from exporting to cybersecurity, cloud computing to procurement, and many more.

Each event will feature a ScotlandIS member offering their expert insights and advice on the topic in hand, however you do not need to be a member to attend these talks.

For this extra webinar in February to mark Cyber Scotland Week 2026, we’ll be joined by guest speaker Debra Cairns, Managing Director of Net-Defence.

Over the past two to three years, supply chain (SC) risk has shifted from an emerging to current risk.

Supply chain risk encompasses a wide range of factors, including economic uncertainty, political instability, natural disasters, and supplier failures. However, today we will be exploring one pressing threat: cyber risk within your supply chain.

An attack on your supply chain can cause significant impact to your ability to operate if they are unable to provide products, systems, and services. Equally as damaging is a cybercriminal launching a cyberattack against you through your supply chain.

Identifying these risks can be challenging, as supply chains are often large, complex, and interconnected. Threats can emerge at any point and take many forms, whether they are inherent, introduced, or exploited by cybercriminals looking for vulnerabilities.

Learn:

• What is Supply Chain Risk & Types of Risk (Inherent/Introduced/Exploited)
• Exploited Risk
• Human Risk
• Role of email
• SC Risk Management

Join our series of events, ScotlandIS Tech Tidbits, on the first Tuesday of every month!

These 30 minute webinars will be short, informative sessions on a variety of topics, from exporting to cybersecurity, cloud computing to procurement, and many more.

Each event will feature a ScotlandIS member offering their expert insights and advice on the topic in hand, however you do not need to be a member to attend these talks.

For this second extra webinar in February to mark Cyber Scotland Week 2026, we’ll be joined by guest speaker Parven Kaur, founder of Kids N Clicks, a platform aiming to help parents safeguard their children’s online experience by educating them on latest misinformation, social media, and digital trends.

In her Tidbit, Parven will take a deep dive into TikTok and how algorithms shape young users’ behaviour, thoughts, and actions.

Ideal for parents, guardians or those interested in online safety or the psychology behind young user behaviours and trends – book your place to join us in October.