Breaking News - Security:
CSIA Calls On White House To Improve Cyber Security
Cyber Security Industry Alliance (CSIA), the only CEO-led public policy and
advocacy group exclusively focused on cyber security policy, called on federal
agencies and the Bush administration to strengthen the cyber infrastructure
and protect end users from cyber attacks. CSIA urges the White House to ensure
federal agencies follow through on the President's National Strategy to Secure
Cyberspace by acting on 12 important recommendations identified by the cyber
security industry and adopting a concrete agenda to further protect the nation
against cyber threats.
The U.S. economy is faced with losses of billions of dollars due to increased
cyber attacks. To help stop this hemorrhaging, protect the critical
infrastructure and enable the next round of innovation on the Internet, the
administration must assert greater leadership in addressing cyber security.
The 12 steps outlined by CSIA represent concrete actions the Federal
government can take that will raise the profile of cyber security, promote
information sharing, threat analysis and contingency planning, as well as
boost efforts in research and development, and security education. In
addition, they will serve to strengthen the collaboration between federal
agencies and the private sector on information security issues.
"The Bush administration has made significant improvements to cyber security
but there is still more that must be done to harden our economy and critical
infrastructure against potential cyber attacks," said Paul Kurtz, executive
director of Cyber Security Industry Alliance and one of the original
developers of the President's National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace. "CSIA
believes that the time for action is now. We have moved beyond the discussion
and planning phase and have identified concrete actions that can be taken by
the administration to immediately improve the security of our nation's cyber
systems."
CSIA calls on federal agencies and the White House to lead by example from a
cyber security perspective by implementing the following 12 recommendations:
- Dedicate an Assistant Secretary position in the Department of Homeland
Security.
- Urge quick ratification of the Council of Europe's Convention on
Cybercrime.
- Encourage information security governance in the private sector.
- Lead by example with federal procurement practices.
- Close the strategic gap between government and private sector information
security efforts.
- Strengthen Information Sharing and Analysis Centers (ISACs).
- Establish and test a survivable Emergency Coordination network.
- Direct a federal agency to track the costs associated with cyber attacks.
- Increase R&D funding for cyber security.
- Fund authorized responsibilities for NIST Computer Security Division and
White House Office of Management and Budget.
- Strengthen the federal security certification process to improve the
quality of security in software.
- Direct a task force to develop concrete actions that will secure digital
control systems used by utilities.
"CSIA is committed to working with the administration to act on the
President's National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace in a collaborative effort
to improve cyber security across the public and private sectors," said John W.
Thompson, chairman and chief executive officer of Symantec and chairman of the
CSIA. "We face serious threats and vulnerabilities to the national information
infrastructure that must be met head on with strong leadership by our
administration."
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