SOFIAH NICHOLE SALIVIO

News Editor

Synectics has secured CAPSS certification from the UK National Protective Security Authority for its Synergy security and surveillance platform, confirming that it meets government-defined cyber security requirements.

The award places Synergy among physical security systems independently assessed against standards used in environments where surveillance and security tools are part of essential operations.

The certification strengthens the case for using Synergy across critical national infrastructure, including utilities, transport, policing, government facilities and public spaces. It also secures the platform a place in the National Protective Security Authority’s Catalogue of Security Equipment, a reference point for procurement teams seeking products that meet recognised cyber assurance standards.

The move comes as cyber assurance carries greater weight in the buying process for physical security systems. Procurement frameworks, internal security policies and national guidance increasingly specify or recommend CAPSS certification where systems protect critical services or national assets.

That trend matters for suppliers serving sectors where surveillance platforms are closely tied to day-to-day operations. In those settings, buyers are under pressure not only to assess camera coverage, monitoring functions and operational reliability, but also to consider whether platforms can withstand cyber threats and support secure deployment.

According to Synectics, Synergy was designed with cyber security measures built into its development and operation. The company highlighted a built-in Secure Check framework intended to help users configure systems in line with cyber security practices, including password strength, encryption settings and account permissions.

It also pointed to role- and permission-based access controls designed to limit access to data and functions to authorised users. Other features cited include encrypted video transmission and storage, device and network authentication, and audit logging with system health dashboards for monitoring and post-event investigation.

Those functions address concerns that have grown as security systems have become more connected and more deeply integrated into wider operational technology and IT environments. Surveillance platforms are often linked to networks, remote access tools, storage systems and control room infrastructure, broadening the potential attack surface if cyber protections are weak.

For customers in sectors such as transport and utilities, the issue goes beyond data protection. A compromise affecting a surveillance or control platform could disrupt incident response, reduce visibility over sensitive sites or interfere with systems used to safeguard staff, assets and the public.

Amanda Larnder, Chief Executive Officer of Synectics, said: “Security and surveillance platforms are part of an organisation’s critical operational infrastructure and customers rightly expect them to meet the highest standard of cyber resilience. CAPSS certification demonstrates that Synergy has been independently assessed against rigorous government-defined cyber security requirements, giving customers greater confidence in the platform’s ability to support secure operations in some of the world’s most demanding environments.”

Synectics presented the certification as a factor that could influence supplier selection in markets where independent cyber assessment is becoming harder to ignore. For public sector buyers and operators of national infrastructure, formal assurance can help narrow procurement choices and support comparisons between competing systems.

Procurement focus

CAPSS has gained prominence as organisations seek more structured ways to judge the cyber posture of physical security products. Rather than relying solely on vendor claims, buyers can use certification as evidence that a platform has been tested against a recognised set of requirements.

That is particularly relevant in the UK market, where national infrastructure operators and government-linked bodies face increasing scrutiny over resilience and supply chain security. Security and surveillance systems, once viewed mainly as physical protection tools, are now more often assessed as networked digital systems that must meet wider cyber governance standards.

Synectics said the certification supports confidence among procurement teams seeking cyber-assured solutions. It also argued that the award reinforces its standing in markets where cyber resilience is becoming a more important differentiator in technology selection.

Larnder said: “Cyber resilience is now inseparable from physical security. Organisations increasingly expect security platforms to deliver operational performance and independently verified cyber resilience. Synergy’s CAPSS certification reinforces Synectics’ commitment to delivering on these requirements and further strengthens our position in markets where cyber assurance is becoming an increasingly important differentiator when selecting security and surveillance technology.”

Seriös Group has published a report on the pressure facing UK data leaders, finding that rising demands are leaving many senior executives overstretched.

The report, titled Chief Information Overload, draws on survey responses from more than 100 data leaders, along with roundtable discussions and expert interviews. It argues that the main challenge is no longer persuading organisations that data matters, but dealing with a widening gap between the responsibility assigned to data leaders and the control they have over the systems and practices needed to deliver results.

Seriös calls this gap the Data Responsibility Rift. It describes a situation in which accountability is concentrated on senior data leaders, while ownership of data creation, management and use is spread across multiple teams.

The findings point to a broad increase in workload. According to the research, 87% of data leaders said their responsibilities had grown since they first took on a senior data role.

Cybersecurity and data protection were the most commonly cited source of pressure, identified by half of respondents. Data governance and quality followed at 40%, while 35% pointed to AI enablement and readiness.

The research also suggests that strain is affecting how sustainable the work has become. Around half of respondents said they could meet expectations comfortably, but about 40% said they felt uncomfortable, overstretched or close to burnout.

AI pressure

AI featured heavily in the report’s assessment of changing expectations. As more teams test data-driven uses for AI tools, senior data leaders are being asked not only to support those efforts but also to ensure the underlying data is reliable, governed and secure.

That is expanding the role. Data leaders are now expected to improve data quality, strengthen governance, manage risk, support decision-making and prepare organisations for wider AI use, even when formal ownership remains fragmented.

Lee Rorison, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Seriös Group, said: “We are no longer trying to convince organisations that data matters; that job is done. For data to operate as a true business asset, organisations need the structure, governance and clarity to support it.”

The report argues that the pressure does not come from a single operational issue. Instead, respondents pointed to a mix of executive expectations, technical complexity and organisational structure.

When asked what would most ease that pressure, data leaders cited senior sponsorship and executive alignment, stronger data quality and governance foundations, simpler tools and platforms, and clearer ownership. The findings show that 23% said senior sponsorship and executive alignment would do most to reduce strain.

Structural issues

Adam Brown, Head of Data Strategy and Architecture at Seriös Group, said: “We can see a clear gap between how important data has become and how organisations are structured to support it. Data leaders are being asked to influence decisions, manage risk and enable AI, often without clear ownership or alignment across the business. Closing that gap is not a technology challenge alone. It requires ownership, governance, environment and capability to work together as a coordinated system.”

To address the issue, the report sets out four areas organisations should tackle: ownership, governance, environment and capability. Ownership refers to clear accountability across business functions, while governance is framed as the guardrails needed for consistent data use. Environment covers accessible, structured data systems, and capability refers to a blend of technical skill, business understanding and communication.

The findings reflect a broader shift in how data leadership is viewed inside organisations. Senior data executives were once tasked mainly with building awareness and improving access to information. They are now often expected to bridge regulatory compliance, business strategy, operational delivery and AI adoption.

That shift has come as businesses in sectors including financial services, retail, healthcare and technology have become more dependent on data-driven processes. With that dependence has come greater scrutiny of how data is governed, who owns it and whether it can be trusted in business systems or AI models.

The report suggests that poor alignment inside organisations can undermine those efforts. If responsibility sits with a Chief Data Officer or another senior leader but decision-making and execution remain distributed, the result can be duplicated work, inconsistent standards and mounting pressure on a small group of senior specialists.

For that reason, the study argues that the challenge is as much organisational as it is technical. Businesses need clearer lines of ownership and stronger internal support if they want data leaders to meet a growing list of demands without increasing the risk of burnout.

Rorison described that strain in direct terms: “This is the reality of Chief Information Overload. There isn’t a shortage of information, there is too much of it, combined with an expectation that it should always deliver. But for data leaders, the opportunity is in bridging that gap. Not by adding more, but by creating the conditions where data can be trusted, understood and used consistently across the organisation. More data isn’t the answer, clarity is.”

SOFIAH NICHOLE SALIVIO

News Editor

Barrier Networks has appointed Maggie Titmuss MBE as an adviser to its Board of Directors, adding a senior cyber security figure to the Glasgow company’s boardroom.

She will provide strategic guidance on cyber security and regulation as organisations in the public and private sectors face rising scrutiny over cyber risk and operational resilience.

Titmuss has more than 35 years of experience across law enforcement and financial services. After working in national and international policing, she moved into banking and most recently served as Director of Intelligence and Incident Response at Lloyds Banking Group.

She also holds a number of other roles across the sector, including Chair of the Scottish Government’s National Cyber Resilience Advisory Board, Chair of Cyacomb, Associate at Beyond Blue and Strategic Advisor to Fivecast.

Barrier provides managed cyber security services, consultancy and cyber assurance work to organisations across the public and private sectors. Its customers include businesses and operators in financial services, legal, government, defence and critical national infrastructure.

Titmuss will advise the board as the cyber threat environment and regulatory demands continue to shift. Businesses across critical infrastructure and regulated industries are under growing pressure to improve monitoring, incident response and governance as cyber attacks become more disruptive.

Sector background

Board-level cyber expertise is increasingly sought after as companies contend with a broader range of risks, including ransomware, supply chain breaches and stricter expectations from regulators and customers. Advisers with experience in policing, intelligence and financial services can bring operational and governance perspectives that boards often lack internally.

Barrier’s services include round-the-clock threat monitoring, incident detection, technical risk assessments and incident response. The business positions itself as helping organisations identify, manage and reduce cyber risk.

In a statement on the appointment, Titmuss said she had been impressed by the business and its client base.

“Barrier Networks has built an excellent reputation for helping organisations strengthen their cyber resilience, and I am highly impressed with their team, skills and the calibre of clients that depend on them. Throughout my career, I’ve seen first-hand how quickly the threat landscape evolves and how important it is for organisations to have trusted partners who can help them prepare for and respond to those challenges. I’m looking forward to working with the Board and leadership team as Barrier continues to grow and deliver more of their expertise to organisations,” said Maggie Titmuss MBE, Advisor to the Board at Barrier Networks.

Her appointment gives Barrier access to experience spanning criminal investigation, cyber intelligence and incident response in a major banking group. That mix is likely to be relevant for a company serving clients in regulated industries and critical infrastructure, where cyber incidents can quickly become operational, financial and reputational issues.

Managed security providers are also expanding their role from technical monitoring to broader advisory work, particularly as customers seek support with resilience planning and regulatory preparedness. For smaller and mid-sized providers, external advisers can offer credibility and strategic direction as competition in the sector intensifies.

Managing Director Ian McGowan said Titmuss would help shape the company’s next phase.

“Maggie’s experience is exceptional. She has operated at the highest levels across law enforcement, financial services and national cyber resilience, giving her a unique perspective on the challenges organisations face today. As Barrier continues to grow, her strategic insight and experience will be invaluable in helping us shape the next stage of our business and continue delivering the highest levels of service to our customers,” said Ian McGowan, Managing Director of Barrier Networks.