IP EXPO Manchester 2019 Highlights

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Cambridge Analytica Whistleblower, Christopher Wylie Kicks Off

Manchester, UK – 03 April 2019 IP EXPO Manchester, co-located at Digital Transformation EXPO, opened today with Christopher Wylie, ex-Cambridge Analytica employee turned whistleblower.  Wylie gave visitors the inside track on one of the most notorious data scandals to date and shared his insights on what governments, technology vendors and regulatory bodies should be doing to better protect personal data in the future.

Drawing parallels with other sectors such as aviation and utilities, he questioned why technology was the only industry where the burden was placed on the consumer; “As consumers we’re not told if you don’t want to get electrocuted, don’t use electricity. There are regulations in place and accountability lies with the provider not the user. Why isn’t that the same with technology?”

Wylie went on to reiterate why this was critical in an increasingly connected, smart world, posing questions about the effectiveness of current regulation such as GDPR. In a data-consent complex world – when people are asked for consent from everyday devices from a toothbrush to a car, the burden of responsibility should not rest with the consumer. He argued that technology was so fundamental to how we live, work and communicate that there has to be a new cross-governmental, cross-industry approach taken to data regulation to ensure it is fit for purpose and used responsibly.

Commenting on the opening of this year’s event, Gordon Sockett, Senior Content Manager, said; “We aim to push the boundaries every year and we felt that Christopher Wylie personified both the opportunities and the challenges that we face as an industry and within society. Data presents so many opportunities to do good, especially as we move into an AI-powered world; but it needs to be the right data and used responsibility. We’re proud to have so many of the leading technology brands involved in ensuring this, as exhibitors at the event – from DarkTrace to MicroSoft and Oracle to Nutanix.”

Additional highlights from Day One at IP EXPO Manchester 2019 include:

  • Chris Testa-O’Neill of Microsoft, demystified the capabilities and ethics of AI, and described the processes for integrating AI technologies into business solutions.
  • Dr Nicola Millard of BT, discussed the digital reinvention of the workplace and how, in today’s society, employees and customers are connected by communication networks rather than face-to-face.
  • Steven Bryen of Amazon Web Services, showcased how companies such as Hotels.com, Netflix and Tinder, are exploiting the latest machine learning technology to improve their products and services for customers.
  • Paul Fletcher of Sainsbury’s discussed the company’s digital transformation and shared the hard lessons he learnt from his and others’ experiences across a number of industries.
  • Lively panel discussion from Brad Brooks of OneLogin, Ian Pitfield of Netacea and Sophie France of Tessian forecasted the biggest cyber security trends and threats for the year ahead.

IP EXPO Manchester 2019 ends with a stark reminder: Anyone can be a victim of a scam or cyber-attack

Manchester, UK – 04 April 2019 IP EXPO Manchester, co-located at Digital Transformation EXPO, opened for the second day with scam expert Alexis Conran, best known for his appearance in the BBC’s Real Hustle. In his captivating keynote speech, Alexis took to the stage to engage the audience by using real life examples showcasing just how easy it is to be a victim of a scam – no matter how secure you believe you are.

We live in a world where we are increasingly reliant on technology, in both work and our everyday lives. With this in mind, Conran discussed how the human element is just as important as the technology itself when it comes to digital security, commenting “Tech doesn’t fail, humans do.” No matter how secure technology may be, human error means we are always at risk and vulnerable. Conran provided attendees with insight into the psychology behind the scams and the necessary steps needed to protect themselves.

Discussions of cyber security continued throughout the day, with an in-depth panel debate on the future of cyber security, chaired by Dr Daniel Dresner of University of Manchester, it brought together Jenny Williams of North West Regional Organised Crime Unit, Anant Shrivastava of Clarenet, Edward Whittingham of Defence Works and Adam Brady of Illumio.

Commenting on Day Two of the event, Gordon Sockett, Senior Content Manager at IP EXPO Manchester said; “It’s been another stand out day at IP EXPO Manchester. Cyber security continued to be a dominant theme throughout the day and we’ve been lucky to have some of the most influential leaders in this space join us to discuss how we can defend and protect ourselves. We want to thank all of our exhibitors and speakers at IP EXPO Manchester 2019 who have covered the latest industry issues and trends, from AI and IoT to networks and infrastructure. Attendees are now able to walk away with a holistic approach to how technology can drive their business forward.”

Additional highlights from Day Two at IP EXPO Manchester 2019 include:

  • Digital skills evangelist, Dr Sue Black shared her fascinating tale of how she saved Bletchley Park, including insight into how technology and education can save lives
  • Ian Pattison of Google discussed the history of the cloud and forecasted future trends we are likely to see in the cloud market over the coming years.
  • Martin Hingley of ITCandor explained why leaving the EU in the way we are could present many opportunities and challenges for consumers and suppliers.
  • Jake Moore of ESET delved into his experience of hacking a police station, as part of an experiment to demonstrate what could be achieved if a targeted attack were to occur.
  • Neil Trevains of Cisco analysed the shift in consumer loyalty from brands to experience, and explained why we must embrace this ‘Perpetual Evolution’ in order to achieve exceptional customer experience.

IP EXPO Manchester returns next year on 25th to 26th March 2020 at Manchester Central. We look forward to seeing you there. For more information, please visit www.ipexpomanchester.com or get involved on Twitter following @IPEXPO or the#IPEXPOManchester hashtag