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[infowar.de] Press Release BSA: Stronger Action Needed to Prevent Cyberattack, Survey Finds
Infowar.de, http://userpage.fu-berlin.de/~bendrath/liste.html
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Stronger Action Needed to Prevent Cyberattack, Survey Finds
(Info tech professionals see vulnerability in cybersecurity)
A survey of information technology (IT) professionals finds that U.S.
government information systems are vulnerable to attack, and that
protection of the nation's IT infrastructure must receive higher
priority.
The survey of almost 400 IT professionals was conducted by the Business
Software Alliance (BSA), an industry organization devoted to monitoring
public policy issues as they relate to IT regulation and infrastructure.
BSA announced the study results June 25, and described the findings in a
press release.
Almost half of the survey respondents said it is likely government IT
infrastructure will be struck by a cyberattack in the next 12 months.
The
finding prompted BSA to call for accelerated action to ward off such a
strike.
"Just as we continue to upgrade our military offensive, the same
diligence
is needed to protect the nation's critical infrastructure," said Bill
Conner, president of the IT security firm Entrust and a member of BSA.
The
corporate membership of BSA is committed to working with the government
to
develop policies and technologies that ensure a secure and legal online
environment.
Complete results of the survey are available at
http://www.bsa.org/security/resources/2002-06-25.131.pps
(begin text)
BUSINESS SOFTWARE ALLIANCE
BSA United States
Press Release
Government at Risk for Major Cyber Attack in Next 12 Months, IT Pros Say
More Resources, Secure Information Sharing Needed
Washington, D.C (June 25, 2002) -- The U.S. government is at risk for a
major cyber attack in the next year, but agencies are not adequately
prepared to defend themselves, according to a survey of information
technology professionals released today by the Business Software
Alliance
(BSA).
Forty-nine percent of IT professionals think it is likely the government
will be hit by a major cyber attack in the next 12 months, with a third
of
those saying it is extremely likely, according to the study by Ipsos
Public Affairs. Of those IT professionals most expert on security issues
-
those responsible for their company's computer and Internet security -
59
percent think a major attack against the government is likely in the
next
year, the survey said.
"It's sobering that IT professionals predict a major cyber attack
against
the United States in the next 12 months," said Robert Holleyman,
president
and CEO of the BSA. "Even more alarming, nine out of 10 IT professionals
believe that the threat of a major cyber attack is the same or worse
since
September 11."
Holleyman said the survey "underscores the need for accelerated
cooperation between the public and private sector to ensure that sound
cyber security technologies are deployed for homeland security."
"There is a true sense of urgency here. It is critical that the Bush
Administration and Congress move quickly on their commitments - both
financial and philosophical - to secure this nation and its critical
infrastructure," Holleyman said. "And as an industry that is developing
the systems necessary to secure our country's complex information
networks
from terrorists and other attackers, we stand ready to help them follow
through on those commitments to secure the resources and develop
policies
that promote a safe and legal online world."
Bill Conner, president, chairman and CEO of Entrust, joined Holleyman in
releasing the study on behalf of BSA's 19 member companies.
"We are at war, but the U.S. government has yet to move at war speed to
protect against cyber attacks," Conner said. "Unlike Y2K, where industry
and government worked together to ward off a one-time problem, the risk
of
a major cyber attack will be a persistent threat. Just as we continue to
upgrade our military offensive, the same diligence is needed to protect
the nation's critical infrastructure."
"We must immediately establish true private-public sector partnerships
to
deploy both defensive and offensive Internet security technologies to
ensure national cyber security," Conner. "This will provide cross-agency
secure communications and information-sharing to prevent, identify and
respond to potential cyber attacks."
One of the key findings of the survey was the belief of IT professionals
that the government needs to devote more time and resources to cyber
security - even more than it did for Y2K. This is a theme the BSA has
been
pushing for months in meetings with senior White House officials. BSA
member company CEOs - during the group's Global Technology Summit in
December and again a few weeks ago at a White House meeting - have
reiterated their commitment to help the administration establish a more
concerted cyber security initiative.
Highlights of the BSA Cyber Security Survey include:
Of those IT professionals who are responsible for their company's
computer
and Internet security, 59 percent think a major attack against the
government is likely in the next year.
72 percent of IT professionals say there is a gap between the threat of
a
major cyber attack against the government and the government's
preparedness.
IT professionals, by a margin of 10-to-1, are more likely to say the
U.S.
government security measures are not at all adequate than extremely
adequate.
Only one in four IT professionals say the government has built adequate
security measures into its e-government initiatives, while one in three
say the security measures are inadequate. 86 percent of IT professionals
agree that as much or more time and resources should be invested to
protect against cyber attacks than was devoted to Y2K.
96 percent of IT professionals say the government needs to employ
technologies like encryption to secure its sensitive data so hackers
will
not be able to access it even if they break into the government's
computer
systems.
"This survey accentuates the importance of network security and
availability of solutions in the fortification of our homeland defense,"
said Gene Hodges, president of Network Associates, Inc. "We remain
committed to helping secure our critical infrastructure through industry
and government cooperation."
The survey of 395 information technology professionals was conducted by
Ispos Public Affairs between June 5 and June 7 and has a margin of error
of plus or minus 5 percent. The poll was conducted online and surveyed
IT
professionals from companies of all sizes in a variety of business
sectors. Ipsos Public Affairs is a subsidiary of Ipsos Research, based
in
Paris, which is the third largest research company in the world.
About the Business Software Alliance
The Business Software Alliance (www.bsa.org) is the foremost
organization
dedicated to promoting a safe and legal online world. The BSA is the
voice
of the world's software, hardware and Internet sectors before
governments
and with consumers in the international marketplace. Its members
represent
the fastest growing industry in the world. BSA educates computer users
on
software copyrights and cyber security; advocates public policy that
fosters innovation and expands trade opportunities; and fights software
piracy. BSA members include Adobe, Apple Computer, Autodesk, Bentley
Systems, Borland, CNC Software/Mastercam, Compaq, Dell, EDS, Entrust,
IBM,
Intel, Intuit, Macromedia, Microsoft, Network Associates, Novell,
Sybase,
and Symantec.
About Entrust
Entrust [Nasdaq: ENTU] is a leading global provider of Internet security
services and solutions that make it safer to do business and complete
transactions over the Internet. Entrust has the industry's broadest set
of
identification, entitlements, verification, privacy and security
management capabilities. Major corporations, service providers,
financial
institutions and government agencies in more than 40 countries rely on
the
privacy, security and trust provided through Entrust's portfolio of
award-winning technologies. For more information, please visit
www.entrust.com.
--
Olivier Minkwitz___________________________________
Dipl. Pol.
HSFK Hessische Stiftung für Friedens- und Konfliktforschung
PRIF Peace Research Institute Frankfurt
Leimenrode 29 60322 Frankfurt a/M Germany
Tel +49 (0)69 9591 0422 Fax +49 (0)69 5584 81
Mobil 0172 3196 006
http://www.hsfk.de pgpKey:0xAD48A592
minkwitz -!
- hsfk -
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