50 years of truth: The harsh realities of the cyber frontline

If you work in tech, information and cyber security, there is a very good chance you are exhausted right now. You spend your weeks fighting invisible threats, fighting for budgets, and drowning in an endless sea of "next-gen" vendor pitches. When you are stuck in that grind, it is incredibly easy to lose sight of the point. If you’ve ever walked a trade show, you know exactly how loud the buzzwords and aggressive sales pitches can get. But every so often, you sit down with someone who cuts straight through the BS and completely grounds you. Recorded live from the floor of the National Cyber Security Show (NCSS) in Birmingham, the team sat down with industry legend Martin Smith MBE to celebrate a monumental legacy: 50 years on the frontline, the 22-year evolution of SASIG and their massive 1,000 Webinars. The National Cyber Security Show (NCSS) provides the absolute perfect backdrop for this conversation. As the lines between physical security and digital risk completely vanish, our industry cannot survive in silos. We desperately need these live, in-person spaces that facilitate physical and digital convergence - a room where defenders, vendors, and leaders can actually listen, learn, teach and exchange the raw ideas needed to outpace modern threats. 🔥 WHAT YOU'LL DISCOVER: 🌐 The NCSS Spotlight: Our thoughts on the National Cyber Security Show, the innovations showcased, and why these events are vital for industry unity. 🚨 Listening to the Frontline: A deep dive into the real-world frustrations and successes shared by security leaders in the SASIG and SECURE ecosystems. 🛡️ 50 Years in Tech and Cyber Security: The harsh realities, biggest shifts, and raw lessons from Martin’s half-century career fighting cybercrime and defending the industry. 🏛️ The SASIG History: How a bold idea in 2004 evolved into a subscription-free powerhouse of 12,000+ professionals across 4,500+ organisations. 🎯 Vision, Mission & Purpose: The blueprint for building a true "CISO safe space" where the frontline can share threat intelligence without commercial distraction under the Chatham House Rule. 🎙️ 1,000 Webinars: Celebrating the massive milestone of 1,000 live sessions and what it takes to consistently deliver unfiltered truth to the community. 🌐 The IT/OT Convergence: Why the barrier between physical and digital worlds has collapsed, and how live events like NCSS help us defend the hyper-connected landscape. 🤝 True Vendor Partnership: Moving past transactional sales pitches to build genuine "trust networks" between vendors and defenders. 🚀 Upcoming Opportunities & Exclusive Announcement: Make sure to listen to the stream to learn exactly what is coming up next in the partnership between SASIG and SECURE, and how you can get involved! 👇 The Challenge: What is the biggest "unspoken truth" in cybersecurity? Drop it in the comments! 🔹 Martin Smith MBE: With nearly 50 years’ experience in the security and crime prevention industries, Martin Smith is a highly respected personality in the cyber world. In 2004, he founded The Security Awareness Special Interest Group (SASIG) as a subscription-free networking forum. Its 11,000+ membership represents 4,500+ organisations drawn from CISOs, CTOs, and their staff. Martin is a Fellow of The Security Institute. In 2017, he received a lifetime achievement award, and in 2024, a Commendation from the City of London Police Commissioner and the National Police Chiefs’ Council for his lifetime’s work in combatting cybercrime. 🏢 About SASIG: We are the SASIG, a subscription-free thought-leadership forum for cyber professionals across all industries. Established by Martin Smith MBE, we have developed a supportive community to become a true ‘CISO safe space’. Becoming a member unlocks exclusive, free benefits including live webinars, in-person events, and the flagship Big SASIG conference. Every event follows the Chatham House Rule, ensuring open, honest discussion free from commercial distraction.