​Today's Decisions on Cybersecurity Must Focus on Deploying Emerging Technologies in Ways that Will Benefit Society in the Future, Unisys Chief Trust Officer to Tell Futurists in Davos

Tom Patterson to present at the Cyber Future Dialogue event, highlight the critical decisions needed for security, privacy and trust for future generations

DAVOS-KLOSTERS, Switzerland, January 21, 2019 – The world is at a "technology crossroads" where society needs to move beyond trusting emerging technologies and focus on deploying them in ways that benefit society, Unisys Corporation Chief Trust Officer Tom Patterson will tell futurists this week in Davos. 

"During the World Economic Forum in 2018, there was a seminal panel titled 'In Technology We Trust' that posited that the movement to trust technology for our global security is the most pivotal and important discussion of all. While still true today, we need to get beyond the discussion of any inherent trust in specific technology and focus on how it will actually be used to benefit global society, said Patterson. "Technologies like 5G, quantum computing, artificial intelligence and biometrics are individually disruptive, but collectively they will completely rewrite the global trust models – for better or worse. Our levels of security and privacy in the years ahead will be dominated by the decisions we make today." 

Patterson will both present his views on this technology crossroads and participate in an expert panel of cybersecurity futurists from Barclays, Intuit, Palo Alto Networks, SAP and SINET at the Cyber Future Dialogue 2019 event, to be held on January 22 at Davos-Klosters in Switzerland. Among the topics in Patterson's presentation will be the importance of citizens playing a role in deciding how emerging technologies will apply to their lives in protecting and providing critical infrastructure across governments, transportation, energy, finance, defence and healthcare. 

Patterson's presentation in Davos serves to extend Unisys' presence as a leading voice in Europe's ongoing dialogue around cybersecurity. The company announced in November 2018 its support of the Paris Call for Trust and Security in Cyberspace in line with its commitment to global cybersecurity and the promotion of best practice across international governments and businesses. Unisys is an early supporter of this global initiative, which aims to make the Internet safer around the world.   

Patterson also serves as the co-lead of the working group of the White House Cyber Moonshot subcommittee – which is co-chaired by Unisys Chairman and CEO Peter Altabef – of the National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC). Founded in 1982 by President Reagan and an act of Congress, NSTAC is chartered to provide information and advice to the President with respect to national security. The Cybersecurity Moonshot report includes a set of recommendations for a "whole of nation approach" regarding the internet – similar in spirit to the one once announced by President Kennedy for "landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth" by the end of the 1960s.  

Unisys leaders also actively support the EastWest Institute (EWI), a global network of influential stakeholders committed to and engaged in building trust and preventing conflict around the world. Altabef serves on the EWI board of directors. 

To stay updated with the news, views and key developments from Davos, follow a series of cyber security blogs from Patterson in both English and German at www.unisys.com/patterson.  

About Unisys

Unisys is a global information technology company that builds high-performance, security-centric solutions for the most demanding businesses and governments on Earth. Unisys offerings include security software and services; digital transformation and workplace services; industry applications and services; and innovative software operating environments for high-intensity enterprise computing. For more information on how Unisys builds better outcomes securely for its clients across the Government, Financial Services and Commercial markets, visit www.unisys.com.    

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