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EIA Press Release

WASHINGTON, DC – In the   wake of an array of high-profile Internet security breaches, a new alliance   was formally launched today.  The Internet Security Alliance (ISA) is a response   to the urgent economic security challenge posed by a growing dependence on e-commerce.    ISA aims to enhance the information security of member companies and, ultimately,   the greater Internet community worldwide.

ISA will be the most comprehensive,   business-led  organization providing up-to-the-minute threat reports, best practice   standards, risk management strategies, certification and more.  It is distinct   from other organizations because its scope is international, cross-industry,   non-profit, non-government and non-proprietary.

ISA is a collaborative effort   between Carnegie Mellon University’s Software Engineering Institute (SEI) and   its CERT® Coordination Center (CERT/CC), and the Electronic Industries Alliance   (EIA), a federation of trade associations. 

The CERT/CC is a major reporting   center for Internet security problems. Staff members provide technical assistance   and coordinate responses to security compromises, identify trends in intruder   activity, work with other security experts to identify solutions to security   problems and disseminate information to the broad community. The CERT/CC also   analyzes product vulnerabilities, publishes technical documents, and presents   training courses.  The CERT/CC offers ISA not only an enormous store of data,   but also unmatched analytical expertise. 

EIA   is a national trade organization with more than 2,300 member companies, representing   the full spectrum of U.S. manufacturers representing more than 80 percent of   the $550 billion electronics industry.  The EIA mission is promoting the market   development and competitiveness of the U.S. high tech industry through domestic   and international policy efforts.

The need for an organization   like ISA is clear.  As little as seven years ago there was no commercial use   of the Internet. Today, hundreds of millions of users have access to the Web   and Internet traffic volume is doubling approximately every 90 days.

Businesses   are recognizing the power of e-commerce and its ability to provide better customer   service, reduce costs, access information rapidly and improve internal communication.  

“As the number of companies   conducting business on the Internet continues to rise, so does the sophistication   and number of cyber-attacks.  Financial losses to business and government due   to Internet vulnerabilities could exceed $100 billion per year by 2004,” said   Steve Cross, Director of the SEI and Deputy Executive Director of ISA.  “The   threat is real, and a proactive industry-led initiative is a must."

“The   mission of ISA is to raise awareness among corporate leaders worldwide of the   potential threats posed by an increase in e-commerce.  ISA members will not   only advocate Internet security, but also adopt the best practice standards   necessary to reduce the risks associated with doing business on the Internet,”   said Dave McCurdy, Executive Director of ISA and President of EIA. 

“ISA   offers high-value information networks working toward common solutions. We hope   businesses of all sizes, from around the globe, will see the enormous benefits   of participating in ISA,” McCurdy added.
 
  The Founding Sponsors of   the ISA as of April 19, 2000 are: American International Group (AIG), Enspherics,   Exodus Communications, Guardent, Mellon Financial Corporation, NASDAQ, Redleaf   Group, Inc., TATA Consultancy Services (TCS), TRW, and VeriSign.

The ISA’s website is www.isalliance.org.