Full Report
I just wanted to remind everyone that the CFP for the 2009 ITWeb Security Summit closes on 26 Jan. We’re hoping to see much more in the way of submissions from local infosec people (especially from corporates) but there’s also still room for international submissions. So far I know of 11 ‘international’ submissions. ITWeb is really good to its international speakers so non- South Africans shouldn’t be put off by the long distances. The conference is at an excellent location, South Africa is beautiful at that time of year, you’ll stay in a swanky hotel (this is the one they used last), the food and beer are cheap and ITWeb will take good care of you. You can check out the conference home page and CFP here.
Analysis Summary
# Industry News: Call for Papers Closes for ITWeb Security Summit 2009 in South Africa
## Summary
The critical deadline for the Call for Papers (CFP) for the 2009 ITWeb Security Summit in South Africa is approaching on January 26th. Organizers are actively seeking more submissions, particularly from local corporate security professionals, while also accommodating remaining international speakers. This information signals an upcoming event focused on regional and global cybersecurity trends.
## Key Details
- Date: CFP Closure on January 26 (Article published Jan 13, 2009)
- Companies Involved: ITWeb, SensePost (Authoring/Promotion)
- Category: Industry Event Planning/Participation Drive
## The Story
The article serves as a final reminder for potential speakers to submit proposals for the 2009 ITWeb Security Summit. While there is an expressed need for greater local participation from corporate security teams in South Africa, the organizers confirm there is still capacity for international presenters. The announcement also highlights the appealing logistical aspects of attending, such as excellent speaker compensation, high-quality venue/accommodation, advantageous cost of living (food/beer), and appealing destination appeal.
## Business Impact
### For the Companies Involved
- **ITWeb:** Successfully securing a diverse and high-quality speaker lineup is crucial for driving conference attendance, sponsorship revenue, and maintaining the event's reputation as a leading regional forum. The promotional push is aimed at maximizing content quality.
- **SensePost (Author):** Engaging in the promotion of the CFP helps maintain visibility within the South African cybersecurity ecosystem and strengthens their standing with ITWeb.
### For Competitors
- **Competing Conferences:** The success of the ITWeb Summit in attracting both local corporate voices and international experts sets a benchmark for other regional security events regarding quality and speaker support, potentially diverting mindshare and speaker interest.
### For Customers
- **Potential Attendees/Sponsors:** The focus on attracting corporate speakers suggests the 2009 agenda will likely feature more practical, enterprise-focused case studies and challenges relevant to corporate security practitioners.
### For the Market
- **Regional Information Sharing:** The successful execution of this event format facilitates crucial knowledge transfer within the evolving African cybersecurity market, helping organizations mature their security postures based on diverse input.
## Technical Implications
The direct technical content is unknown until the CFP review process is complete. However, the specific call for corporate submissions hints at future session topics focusing on real-world enterprise security implementation, compliance challenges, and operational security issues prevalent in the region.
## Strategic Analysis
- **Market Positioning:** ITWeb is positioning the summit as a premier, professionally supported regional platform capable of attracting and rewarding international expertise, while simultaneously nurturing local talent.
- **Competitive Advantage:** Offering strong support and hospitality to non-South African speakers is a strategic move to differentiate itself from other regional events that might not offer similar travel incentives, ensuring a broader diversity of viewpoint.
- **Challenges:** The primary challenge noted is eliciting stronger participation from local corporate security professionals, suggesting potential bandwidth or internal approval issues within those organizations to allow staff to present.
## Industry Reactions
- **Analyst Opinions:** Observers of the African tech event scene would view this as a critical period for finalizing the agenda. The quality of the content, heavily reliant on these CFP submissions, will determine the event's overall perceived value for the year.
- **Expert Commentary:** Experts often note that conferences prioritizing speaker comfort (as ITWeb claims to do) generally secure higher-caliber presenters who can deliver more polished and impactful presentations.
## Future Outlook
- **Predictions and Expectations:** Once the CFP closes, the next key indicator will be the announcement of the finalized agenda, which will reveal the balance between international thought leadership and local corporate challenges being addressed.
- **What to watch for:** Monitoring the ratio of international versus local corporate speakers announced will be important for gauging the event’s focus for 2009.
## For Security Professionals
Professionals in the region should finalize their submissions before the deadline. For those planning to attend, this signals that the agenda will likely be robust, offering valuable insights into local market security issues supported by global best practices, all presented in a cost-effective travel destination.