Keeping Up With Compliance: White Paper on Escape Doors published by Abloy UK

Abloy UK has created a White Paper that explains the importance of complying with standards and regulations for Escape Doors and recommends solutions to ensure compliance.

All stages of developing any building need to conform to the required standards. From the architect to the installer, all parties involved need to take responsibility for ensuring the correct compliant elements are in place.

There’s an average of 162 building fires in Great Britain every day, with more than 9,100 fatalities or casualties from those fires, which works out at around 25 per day. Fitting the correct system can literally mean 
the difference between life and death for the occupants of a building.

In this White Paper, Abloy UK explores why it’s vital that each party – whether an architect, specifier, facilities manager or installer – takes responsibility for ensuring the correct compliant standards are met to guarantee safe egress for the occupants of the building in the event of an emergency.

*To view the White Paper visit http://www.abloy.co.uk/en/abloy/abloy-co-uk/white-paper/escape-standards-compliance-white-paper/

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‘Demonstrating Cyber Security Readiness to Regulators through Risk Assessments’: White Paper issued by Hatstand

Specialist financial technology company Hatstand has issued a White Paper around regulators in the financial services world increasing their focus on cyber security and the need for businesses operating in this sector to view this as part of the overall enterprise risk management of a company. 

The White Paper discusses how performing a risk assessment can help a business deliver clarity, not only to the regulators, but also to the key stakeholders of its key assets concerning current status and gaps in controls and processes. A baseline assessment can then be used to evolve a Working Plan designed to mitigate the gaps and demonstrate to the regulators and stakeholders that the business is taking its cyber risk management responsibilities extremely seriously.

Cyber security is, of course, a key concern for our senior political leaders, regulators and industry professionals. However, keeping business and client data secure can be a challenge as it crosses global networks, computing and PDA devices.

Hatstand has produced a White Paper on cyber security for those companies operating in the financial services sector

Many industry experts predict that it’s not a matter of ‘If’ but ‘When’ a company will experience a cyber security breach. Indeed, it has been reported that the number of cyber security attacks increased by over 50% in 2014 when compared with the statistics recorded for the previous year.

The Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) have made cyber security preparedness a top priority for their 2015 member firm examinations. Furthermore, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is weighing in to the debate as indicated by the recent remarks made by its chairman, Timothy Massad, who said: “Cyber security is the most important single issue facing our markets today in terms of market integrity and financial stability.”

Policies and guidelines

More countries are taking the initiative to educate their ‘net’ citizens and are creating policies and guidelines for firms and individuals to create awareness of such crimes. In Europe, the EU is putting together a Cyber Security Directive that’s planned to apply to all business sectors. Although some of the EU regulations recently passed or currently under consultation have some cyber security elements, nothing has been specifically aimed at the financial services sector.

With cyber security directly affecting clients, data, networks, hardware, software and operations, the need to protect them from theft, business disruption and destruction is paramount.

Hatstand’s White Paper evaluates why businesses need to have sound governance practices in place and recognise that cyber security is more than just an IT-related issue. It also examines how the threat of a cyber attack should be viewed as part of the overall enterprise risk management of the firm, with Board oversight and a proper risk framework covering identification, protection, detection, response and recovery.

Firms should be identifying their possible risks, assessing the likelihood of events occurring and preparing their response(s). Once armed with this information, they can then determine their risk tolerance and prioritise their cyber security counter-measures. This is an iterative process that needs to be continuously reviewed and updated as the environment is constantly changing.

*Download a full copy of Hatstand’s White Paper

Assa Abloy White Paper: ‘Meeting the Security Challenge for Serviced Office Providers’

Assa Abloy Access Control has launched a new downloadable White Paper in order to open a discussion on the security challenges faced by serviced office providers.

Entitled ‘Meeting the Security Challenge for Serviced Office Providers’, the White Paper is now available to download at http://www.assaabloy.co.uk/aperio and looks at the growing number of issues faced by serviced office operators and owners.

Taken into account in the White Paper are the latest predictions reported by the Business Centre Association (BCA) that the serviced office sector will double in the next five years.

The White Paper notes the need to ensure high security is a critical factor in the general upkeep of serviced office facilities, in turn citing evidence of the increase in internal criminal activity due to opportunist trends and desperation crime as a direct result of the present economic difficulties.

The front cover of Assa Abloy’s latest security White Paper

Impact on brand and reputation

Damian Marsh (md of Assa Abloy Access Control and author of the White Paper) commented: “The serviced office sector has undeniably evolved into one of the fastest-growing sectors in the global commercial property market, providing innovative flexible property solutions as an alternative to traditional long lease terms. While this is great news for the serviced office operator and/or owner, it does mean that the need to keep improving the quality and the competitive ability of their offering remains of paramount importance so as to maintain a positive welcoming feel for tenants and retain their business.”

Marsh continued: “Security and the associated legal and financial consequences of a breach can have a detrimental impact on future business for a serviced office location, notably with the inevitable vitriolic review that could make an instant impact on a brand’s reputation.”

Damian Marsh: md of Assa Abloy Access Control in the UK

Of the White Paper itself, Marsh explained: “We have carefully broken down the issues to open a discussion on how to meet these security challenges. We look forward to opinions, experience and comments on this very complex and challenging issue, and will take all responses on board with our supply channel partners to seek bespoke solutions for serviced officer providers.”

The White Paper is now available to download at: http://www.assaabloy.co.uk/aperio and encourages responses to a dedicated facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/ASSAABLOYUK