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Will physical security and IT security become a singular function managed by a single CSO (chief security officer)? If so, does that mean the role of CISO (chief security officer) will go away? These are some of the questions posed in this podcast to Tim Williams, Nortel CSO, and Steve Hunt, research president and founder of 4A International (4AI), a physical/IT security convergence consultancy.

Williams had a critical role in the formation of the CSO Guidelines put out last year by the American Society of Industrial Security – guidelines that cross extensively between IT, human resources and physical security functions. For the past 25 years starting with Proctor and Gamble, Williams has helped redefine corporate security guidelines to increasingly involve IT. Then in the mid-80s, he saw convergence happening and started aligning himself with IT.

You'll have to listen to the podcast to hear these experts' predictions of whether or not the role of the CISO will dissolve into the overall CSO function. But both experts firmly believe that to keep competitive, enterprise organizations should already be working together cross-functionally to standardize uniform risk management for all business departments.

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Bio

Tim Williams is responsible for global security functional leadership within Nortel, including policy and practice development for computer, telecommunications and related systems security, risk assessment, crisis management, security-related investigations and employee protection. Previously, he served as Vice President, Business Ethics, from 1994 to 1997. Prior to joining Nortel in 1987, Williams was Director of Corporate Security Services of Boise Cascade Corporation and International Security Coordinator of Procter & Gamble, with both domestic and international corporate security responsibilities. He holds an MBA from the University of Toronto and a bachelor's degree from the University of Cincinnati. He is a member of the Information Security and Audit Association and the Information Systems Security Association. He also serves on the Board of Directors of ASIS International.

Steve Hunt is president & CEO, Strategic Consulting, Security Industry Analysis, Sales & Marketing Guidance. Mr. Hunt is on the board of the Open Security Exchange, advises the board of ASIS International through its Convergence Commission, and is a valued consultant to many of the world's largest corporations. From 1998 to 2005, Mr. Hunt led the security research teams of Forrester Research and Giga Information Group. Before joining Giga, he served as technical director to an Israeli security company's 20 worldwide channels and resellers. Previously, Steve worked as a consultant to Chicago's financial community. Throughout the 1980s, he implemented and designed security for facilities, including physical access control systems, disaster recovery, alarms, and surveillance.

Production Credits

Deb Radcliff, Producer
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