Close
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Cybersecurity
    • Cybersecurity

    IT Wants Security Plan Clarified

    By
    Caron Carlson
    -
    November 25, 2002
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      eWEEK content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.

      The IT industry last week answered the Bush administrations call for comments on its draft strategy for securing the countrys computer networks. Software and hardware vendors are looking for stronger recommendations to guide them in selling their wares to the government, but they also want assurances that the strategy wont become a vehicle for costly regulations later.

      The National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace is bold in its pronouncements of the importance of voluntary action within the private sector as well as partnerships between industry and government. Not fully convinced that the plan is not a slippery slope toward mandates, however, software makers last week asked the administration to clarify that the government endorses market-based technology development and doesnt plan new regulations.

      One potentially troubling recommendation to the industry calls for a federal assessment of private-sector security service providers. The Business Software Alliance asked the administration to make it clear that the assessment would apply only to individuals and not to specific systems or products. The BSA, in Washington, supports neither a seal of approval for security products nor the creation of a federal certification program.

      The software alliance also opposes a recommendation calling on the National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee and National Infrastructure Assurance Council to set up a standards-setting organization. “We can foresee only duplication of existing efforts or, of more concern, government-guided efforts at regulation from such a body, either directly or through the migration of procurement specifications,” the BSA wrote in its comments.

      Similarly, the alliance objects to a draft recommendation to set up a public/private fund to identify and address technology needs for the Internet. Such needs are already identified, the BSA maintained, and the fund “could become a hidden tax on industry and a mechanism for aggressive regulation.”

      Large enterprises raised the same concern last week about the balance between security measures and economics. The Business Roundtable, made up of CEOs of Fortune 200 companies, commended the voluntary recommendations, particularly the call for CEOs to become fully involved in security, but cautioned that the strategy must address associated costs.

      The governments efforts to gather more network vulnerability information from the private sector—efforts that began well before Sept. 11, 2001, but have gained momentum since—continue to prove to be a major hurdle. Those in the industry say theyre willing to turn over more data, but only if it is guaranteed that it wont be held liable for privacy or antitrust violations in doing so.

      ITs Suggestions for Cyber-Strategy

      • Clarify that federal recommendations are not a back door to regulation
      • Reinsert explicit support for laws protecting private companies that share data with the government
      • Avoid creating bureaucracies that duplicate existing initiatives
      • Include strong recommendations for private sector to voluntarily improve security
      Caron Carlson
      Get the Free Newsletter!
      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis
      This email address is invalid.
      Get the Free Newsletter!
      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis
      This email address is invalid.

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Latest News

      Zeus Kerravala on Networking: Multicloud, 5G, and...

      James Maguire - December 16, 2022 0
      I spoke with Zeus Kerravala, industry analyst at ZK Research, about the rapid changes in enterprise networking, as tech advances and digital transformation prompt...
      Read more
      Applications

      Datadog President Amit Agarwal on Trends in...

      James Maguire - November 11, 2022 0
      I spoke with Amit Agarwal, President of Datadog, about infrastructure observability, from current trends to key challenges to the future of this rapidly growing...
      Read more
      Cloud

      IGEL CEO Jed Ayres on Edge and...

      James Maguire - June 14, 2022 0
      I spoke with Jed Ayres, CEO of IGEL, about the endpoint sector, and an open source OS for the cloud; we also spoke about...
      Read more
      Applications

      Kyndryl’s Nicolas Sekkaki on Handling AI and...

      James Maguire - November 9, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nicolas Sekkaki, Group Practice Leader for Applications, Data and AI at Kyndryl, about how companies can boost both their AI and...
      Read more
      IT Management

      Intuit’s Nhung Ho on AI for the...

      James Maguire - May 13, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nhung Ho, Vice President of AI at Intuit, about adoption of AI in the small and medium-sized business market, and how...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2022 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×