UNIFIED SECURITY LTD


Founded in October 2009 by James Willison BA MA MSyI Unified Security Ltd has consistently advocated that the best way to identify and respond to security risks is by a clear and united teaming approach. The team consists of physical and information security professionals who work together on all areas of security risk management. James is Project and Engagement Manager at the Internet of Things Security Foundation and a recognised International leader in Security Convergence and Enterprise Security Risk Management. James is proud to be a member of the Eric Liddell Community. Named #8 Cyber Security Professional IFSEC Global Influencers Security and Fire 2020. James is a judge for the 2022 IFSEC Global Influencers. Shortlisted in Security Serious Unsung Security Heroes Awards 2018 as a Security Leader/mentor. He is an advisor for the IFSEC Converged Security Centre and a reseller of Kaseware, an innovative cyber physical investigative tool. James is Co-Chair, Smart Built Environment Working Group, Internet of Things Security Foundation and a member of ASIS International, ISACA and the Security Institute. James was awarded the Imbert Prize for an ‘outstanding contribution to the Security Industry in 2011’ for his work on convergence with ASIS Europe and the Information Security Awareness Forum. He has more than 20 years of management experience in the physical and information security industry, including posts as Advisor on Convergence to the Mitie TSM Board, Senior lecturer in Security Management at Loughborough University and Digital Security Expert with the European Union. He has co-authored three White Papers on ESRM, SMART GDPR Assurance for a Smarter world and Smart Buildings and Cities Security with his colleague and fellow convergence expert, Sarb Sembhi, sponsored by AXIS Communications and published by Unified Security Ltd. He has helped develop and build partnerships and relationships in numerous projects between security professionals including writing new content in published International Standards. He regularly writes articles for IFSEC Insider and is an established speaker at International security conferences.

The Story so far

1. 2008: James was invited to be Convergence Lead for ASIS UK until 2012.

2. 2011: James was appointed Vice Chair, ASIS European Convergence/ESRM committee

3. 2011: James was awarded the Imbert Prize for an ‘outstanding contribution to the Security Industry in 2011’ for his work on convergence with ASIS Europe and the Information Security Awareness Forum.

4. 2013: UBM's Future Cities Top 100 City Innovators Worldwide. James was recognised "For his seminal research and advocacy of physical and information security, and its applicability to urban security, we're pleased to call out James Willison as a security leader for global cities".

5. 2014: IFSEC Global #17 in Top 40 Most Influential People in Security 

6. 2016: Worked with Professor Martin Gill on Perpetuity Research’s Cyber Crime and Private Security Report.

7. 2018: IFSEC Global Influencers: #17 in Security Thought Leader category

8. 2018: Launched the first IFSEC Converged Security Centre, powered by Visdys, with the ‘best panel’ of the event. We are now working on the 2022 show. 

9. 2018: Appointed Co Vice Chair, Smart Buildings Group, Internet of Things Security Foundation.

10. 2018: Shortlisted in Security Serious Unsung Security Heroes Awards as a Security Leader/mentor.

11. 2018: Awarded Certificate of Appreciation in recognition of outstanding leadership, dedication and continued support of the IoT Security Foundation Working Groups.

12. 2017 - 2021: Completed a trilogy of White Papers sponsored by AXIS Communications and published by Unified Security Ltd with Virtually Informed Ltd. Axis Communications ‘greatly admire the work that Virtually Informed and Unified Security are doing to help ensure that the worlds of physical and cyber security are aligned and working together to achieve a common goal of increased safety and security for all' (Steven Kenny). Our work with AXIS continues with a new paper on Smart Cities to be published in Q1 2022. https://www.axis-communications.com/Articles_and_white_papers

13. 2019: IFSEC Global Influencers: #13 in Security Thought Leadership category.

14. 2020-2021: Presented on panels on leading security conferences including IFSEC International, SC Digital Conference 2021, IoT Security Foundation Annual conference 2020,

15. 2021: Kaseware: Started working with this leading cyber and physical security investigations solution

16. 2021: Hilson Moran: Delighted to work as an associate consultant with this leading engineering company on a cyber security strategy and data user policy for a Smart Building in London: https://www.hilsonmoran.com/services/smart-buildings/ 

17. 2022:  James, is one of three UK security professionals to join the 2022 IFSEC Global Influencers in Security panel of Judges.


18. 2022: The Converged Security Centre returns to 2022 IFSEC International, James is leading the project with Sarb Sembhi.


19. 2023: James is appointed as Project and Engagement Manager at the IoT Security Foundation.

20. 2023: James is interviewed at IFSEC International and describes what the Converged Security Centre is all about (see above!).

21. ‘James is the most influential person on Convergence in our industry’ : the late and great David Clark: past chair ASIS UK and the Security Commonwealth.

I am especially grateful to my dear friend and colleague Sarb Sembhi (CISO Virtually Informed) who I have worked closely with over the past 15 years and without whom none of the above would have happened. I also highly value the friendship and support of many in our industry and together we can make this world a safer place. In particular Dave Tyson, Alessandro Lega, Volker Wagner, Mike Hurst, Graham Bassett, Brian Sims, Alan Jenkins, Gerry Dunphy, Rachel Eaton, Adam Bannister, Steven Kenny, Dominic Jones, Prof. Martin Gill, Peter French, Mark Folmer, Rollo Davies, Prof. Paul Dorey, John Moor, Jason Shaw, Nigel Stanley, Prof. Danny Dresner, Dr. Alison Wakefield, Miki Calero, Chuck Andrews, Mike Gips, James Chong, John Gill, Brian Allen, Dr. David King, Christoph Teuber, Godfried Hendriks and of course David Clark (thanks to you always in memorium, David!).

If you would like any help in the area of convergence, Smart Buildings and IoT Security please get in touch as this is a fast moving and inspiring field to be in and will, as our friend David Clark foresaw, be key to move forward in.


For more details please contact James at jameswillison@unifiedsecurity.net


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