Internet Security Alliance President Larry Clinton has been asked to chair the National Security sector of the First Worldwide Cybersecurity Summit scheduled to take place in Dallas from May 3-5.
The Worldwide Cyber Security Summit, sponsored by the EastWest Institute in conjunction with major corporations such as Dell/Perot Systems, will bring together 450 participants from 40 countries including leaders from government, business and the private sector. The goal of the summit is to “determine new measures to ensure the security of the world’s digital infrastructure.”
The summit is organized into 7 sectors; each sector is tasked with reframing, and then devising strategies to address, the increasingly serious cyber security issues faced within that respective sector. The appointment of Clinton, who represents a private sector organization, to lead the National Security Sector is not only an indication of the diversity of ISA’s membership, but also a recognition of the private sector’s unique and prominent role in areas of security that traditionally have been the exclusive province of government entities.
“The fact is that it is the private sector on the front lines of cyber warfare. Since the private sector owns and operates 90-95% of the world’s digital infrastructure it is absolutely critical that the proper market incentives for improved cyber security be put in place. Unfortunately, the dominant approach has been to treat cyber security as a technical or operational issue. We must begin thinking of cyber security more from economic and strategic issue, said Clinton.
Clinton pointed out that most cyber attacks are economically motivated and therefore will best be curbed by altering the economic equation of cyber security. “Digital attacks are easy and cheap to deploy, the value of what can be stolen is enormous and the chances of getting caught are miniscule. On the other hand cyber defense is a generation behind the attackers, the perimeter to defend is infinite and there is little return on investment to cyber security. We need to alter the economics of cyber security on a world-wide basis if we are to create a sustainable system of cyber security,” said Clinton.
The Internet Security Alliance (ISA) is a unique multi-sector trade association which provides thought leadership and strong public policy advocacy as well as business and technical services to its membership. The ISA represents enterprises from the aviation, banking, communications, defense, education, financial services, insurance, manufacturing, security, and technology industries. ISA’s mission is to integrate advanced technology with the realistic business needs of its members and enlightened public policy to create a sustained system of cyber security.
| ISA To Lead National Security Sector At Worldwide Cybersecurity Summit