The IT security pros and cons of open source versus proprietary systems, and European Commission regulatory policy will be among the key themes at this year's Information Security Solutions Europe (ISSE) event in Rome starting today (9Oct).

Keynote speakers include European Commissioner for Information Society and Media, Viviane Reding, who is expected to discuss privacy and data protection issues, according to Roger Dean of Eema, the pan-European e-business organisation which runs the event.

Security expert Bruce Schneier, meanwhile, will talk about the economics of information security and how to maximise return on investment.

"Since Eema has been going there have always been three streams of issues, almost regardless of the technology," said Dean. "One of those is security – there will always be a new threat and the issue of identity will be very important [at ISSE]. Identity and security are so intertwined."

As well as covering perennial topics for discussion such as RFID and ID cards in the event's workshops, there will be an opening plenary debate about the differences in security levels in various systems, covering open versus closed source development and web services security, Dean added.