The high quality of finalists for this year’s Scottish Cyber Awards highlights a “flourishing cyber security sectors”, according to organisers.

Now in its third year, the event has become a key fixture in the calendar of a sector that is fast emerging as one of Scotland’s most important.

Those at the forefront in the battle to protect Scottish people and businesses against cybercrime will again be recognised at the Sheraton Hotel in Edinburgh on 28th November, where the winners will be announced.

Finalists have been announced from all corners of Scotland, bringing together the nation’s cyber security leaders for the most prestigious event in the industry.

Mandy Haeburn-Little, chief executive of the Scottish Business Resilience Centre, the hosts of the awards, believes that Scotland has the potential to be a country of excellence in cyber security and innovation.

She said: “The judging this year was even harder than last year and that just further underlines the sea change in the number of cyber innovation and technical companies that Scotland is seeing grow.

“This year we had more applications, the decisions were tougher and the suite of finalists really does read like a who’s who of the best of that talent.

“As a sector this is a hugely valuable part of our economy and I am really supportive of recognising that hunger for success and for excellence.

“This year we have seen much greater diversity than before and that includes a much higher entry level to ‘Outstanding Woman in Cyber’.

“In addition, ‘Best Cyber Talent’ saw an excellent field of young and emerging bright stars and we need to do all we can to keep that talent here, even for a short while. Now more than ever, talented people here in Scotland are getting on the front foot, creating solutions, training others and setting new standards of excellence.

“Congratulations to all who have been nominated, it may sound a cliché but the standards truly were higher than ever before – and being represented is a sign of quality.”

Categories in this year’s awards include Outstanding Woman in Cyber, Best Cyber Breakthrough and Cyber Security Teacher of the Year.

For the first time ever, an award will be judged by the public – with Best Customer Experience now open to a public vote and will be live on the Scottish Cyber Awards website (www.scottishcyberawards.co.uk) until 30th October.

Richard Holmes, VP Cyber Security Services for CGI and Scottish Cyber Awards judge, said: “The entries were of a very strong standard and the judging process gave an excellent insight into the truly innovative approaches being taken in Scotland to fight the cyber threat.

“We are very much looking forward to the awards ceremony as an opportunity to further recognise and celebrate this expertise.”

The Scottish Cyber Awards will be held on Wednesday 28th November at the Sheraton Hotel in Edinburgh.

For more information on the Scottish Cyber Awards 2018 visit www.scottishcyberawards.co.uk where you can find full details, sponsors and buy tickets.

The full list of nominees for the awards:

Best Cyber Start Up
CyberAggress
Cyan Forensics

Best New Cyber Talent
John Young – People’s Postcode Lottery
Peter Aaby – Edinburgh Napier University
Kinga Kieczkowska – ZoneFox

Best Cyber Breakthrough
ZoneFox
CyberShell Solutions
Quorum Cyber

Collaboration with Police Scotland
ID Cyber Solutions
TrendMicro

Cyber Evangelist of the Year
Rory Alsop – HSBC, ISF, B-Sides, ISACA, IISP, Security Stack Exchange
Basil (Vassillis) Manoussos – Edinburgh Napier University
Harry McLaren – ECS Security

Cyber Security Teacher of the Year
Scott Hunter – Kyle Academy
Steven Whyte – Gracemount High School
Robert Quigley – Highland Council – Care and Learning

Outstanding Woman in Cyber
Kirsty McFaul – Education Scotland
Catherine Fitzimons, Amina Tahir and Rachel Cooper (Turing’s Testers) – St. Kentigerns Academy
Rachel Jones – SnapDragon Monitoring

Leading Light Innovation
SOCLAB – Satisnet/Edinburgh Napier University
My1Login
CyberShell Solutions

Best Cyber Education Programme
MSc in Advanced Security and Digital Forensics – Edinburgh Napier University
Cyber Christmas Lectures
Learning & Development Team – City of Edinburgh Council

Outstanding Cyber Team
University of St Andrews IT Security Team – University of St Andrews
Police Scotland Cyber Crime Prevention Team – Police Scotland
Turing’s Testers – St. Kentigerns Academy

Best Customer Experience
Quorum Cyber
7Elements
Seric Systems