Presented the Final Report of Security Liaison Officer Project, study wanted and financed by the EU, of which the Campus Bio-Medico of Rome is the coordinator. Light has been shed on the characteristics that this figure should have, obligatorily envisaged by a European Directive, but not yet adequately 'designed' in its competences and responsibilities. The data in the report comes from over 350 experts from 34 different countries, both European and non-European
Rome, 25 June 2014 - What will be the strategic set-up of the Security Directorate of European private and public companies that manage critical infrastructures over the next five years? Which the tasks, responsibilities, cultural and social profile of the modern liaison Manager for the Security of Critical Infrastructures, the so-called Security Liaison Officer? On which professional 'identity' will sector companies invest at least part of their over 5 million euros per year expected, despite the economic crisis, by more than 50 percent of them as security budget?
These are questions brought up to date by the need to adapt to the European Directive 2008/114/EC. The latter, implemented in Italy in 2011, binds the realities that have to do with critical infrastructure to the appointment of one SLO. Between the lines of the European text, however, such figure is not declined clearly, nor is it specified whether it can refer to similar existing profiles, such as the Chief Security Officer, i.e. the person in charge of Personnel, Structures and Physical and Digital Information Security. Result? Each Member State, but also each company, has interpreted in its own way, based on its own sensitivity, the application of the rule and, consequently, the type of professional to choose which Security Liaison Officer.
To turn the spotlight on a European profile of SLO finally unique and shared, through the qualified contribution of international experts in the sector, six years after the launch of the Directive, the Security Liaison Officer Project. Funded by the EU, the project was coordinated by the Laboratory of Complex Systems and Security ofUniversità Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, directed by Prof. Roberto Setola.
I study results, which lasted eight months and which used questionnaires, coffee workshops and interviews with over 350 experts from 34 European and non-European countries as tools, were presented on June 25th at the New Chamber of Parliamentary Groups of the Chamber of Deputies.
Le critical infrastructure they are those processes, systems or resources which, if interrupted or temporarily unavailable, weaken the functioning of a country. Electricity networks, roads and railways, communication networks or all forms of energy, such as oil or natural gas, represent, for example, critical infrastructures.
The last ten years have been full of changes in this area. The figure of the safety coordinator has in fact moved from the role of guarantor of the safety of employees and assets from malicious activities, often in cases of emergency, to that of point of contact and strategic link between the organization and other similar national and European, public and private realities. Stless and less 'field' activities, therefore, replaced by increased risk management, communication and organizational skills. Not only. Modern SLO, according to the results of the Project, will no longer necessarily be military oriented. Better adequate academic and legal training, complemented by strong relational and managerial skills, essential to ensure the consolidation of the corporate reputation and the creation of strategic plans to prevent potential threats, accidental or induced. A profile to be identified preferably within the structure, to ensure better knowledge of internal processes and activities.
Europe is looking for a common identikit on which to focus investments for the security of critical infrastructures of companies and institutions. The results of the SLO project that have been presented to the House want to help you win this bet.
