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TechAmerica News

TechAmerica Applauds Passage of Temporary R&D Tax Credit Extension
This extension provides temporary relief for many of the companies that depend on it to support more than 100,000 well-paying jobs...
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Attend TechAmerica's 2010 Beyond the Beltway
State and local governments are expected to spend $92B on IT products and services in 2010. Learn more on March 22...
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Nominations Open for 2010 American Technology Awards
Submit your company today to be recognized in the only national "Best Of" awards for technology products and services on June 16th in Washington, DC...
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Information Security

Mission

The Information Security (InfoSec) Committee’s mission is to advocate on behalf of our member companies for public policy, public-private partnership, and global coordination and collaboration efforts that reflect the needs of industry and our customers.

Achieving the Mission

The InfoSec Committee has identified the following priority issues and programs for 2009:

• Implementation of the White House Cyberspace Policy Review recommendations
• Federal Information Security Management Act reform/update
• National security and data breach notification legislation
• Critical Infrastructure Protection, including addressing global supply chain, cyber education, cyber research and development, and information sharing issues
• The National Cyber Initiative, including private sector partnership and global supply chain
• Standards/Best Practices
• International cyber security cooperation and collaboration
• Privacy

The Information Security Committee meets once a month to deliberate policy positions and discuss pending legislation or regulatory action. Each meeting includes discussion with one or more key policy decision makers in the Congress or the Administration. In addition to the monthly meetings, the Committee:  takes side meetings with congressional staffers and agency representatives; provides written advocacy materials such as principles, one-pagers, letters, etc.; organizes congressional testimony; responds to legislative proposals; and holds special events such as congressional briefings and other conferences for education, advocacy, and networking purposes.

Who participates?

The typical committee participants are government relations professionals and information security policy or business line executives at companies interested in cyber security issues and market developments. The Information Security Committee is under-going a streamlining process within TechAmerica to a unified structure that incorporates Commercial Sector and Public Sector interests, with appropriate subcommittees and member company leadership and participation opportunities.

Cyber Security CxO Council

In 2008, the Cyber Security Industry Alliance (CSIA) merged with ITAA. In addition to integrating CSIA’s members into the ITAA Information Security Committee, ITAA also committed to creating a Cyber Security CxO Council to retain and expand the senior executive participation previously in CSIA under the leadership of then-CSIA Chairman John Thompson, CEO of Symantec. The Cyber Security CxO Council (“CCC”) held its inaugural meeting in November 2008, and planning is underway to implement the CCC program including two in-person meetings a year with key policy makers.

Current CCC Chairman:

• Phil Dunkelberger, CEO, PGP Encryption Software

Learn more about the Cyber Security CxO Council.

TechAmerica Statement on Clinton Internet Freedom Speech

January 21, 2010: TechAmerica President and CEO Phil Bond today issued the following statement on U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s speech on Internet freedom:

We agree with Secretary Clinton that a single, secure and uncensored Internet is critical both for human rights and global prosperity and that this principle should be an active matter of U.S. foreign policy. Therefore, we look to the U.S. government to address laws and practices in other countries that either facilitate censorship, oppression or a fractured Internet, or are unhelpful to International cooperation in cybersecurity and law enforcement....read more.

TechAmerica Statement on Reported Chinese Cyber Snooping Campaign

January 14, 2010: TechAmerica today issued the following statement in response to reports of a broad political, industrial and defense espionage campaign originating from China.

“Reports of cyber attacks from China are not news to the cyber security community,” said TechAmerica President Phil Bond. “Cyber security risks emanating from China are ongoing and are very real for all of us. The threats are not new and they are not of concern solely to companies doing business in China. Companies are concerned across a broad cross section of the tech industry. Criminal cyber activity affects companies of all sizes operating globally to provide Internet services, serve the government, and support industries across the economy. That is why leaders in industry and government are ramping up efforts to work together on addressing our vulnerabilities...read more.

TechAmerica Applauds Selection of Schmidt as Cyber Coordinator

December 22, 2009: TechAmerica today applauded the President’s appointment of Howard Schmidt as the first White House cybersecurity coordinator, calling the selection of someone with both government and industry expertise a “very strong signal that this Administration understands the importance of partnership between government and industry in tackling the security challenge of our age.”  The association also sent a congratulatory letter on the appointment to President Barack Obama.

“Howard has the perfect resume for the job,” said TechAmerica President Phil Bond. “From two tech powerhouses in Microsoft and eBay, to law enforcement, to developing national cybersecurity strategy, Howard has literally done it all. He has led both sides of the partnership in the trenches and in the boardroom and understands well threats facing our economy and national security.”

For a complete copy of the letter, click on the following link:  http://www.techamerica.org/Docs/TechAmerica_letter_CybersecurityCoordinatorAppointment_122209.pdf

President Obama Issues a Statement on National Cybersecurity Awareness Month

October 14, 2009: President Obama explains how the growth of digital networks has increased the need to invest in online security, as well as steps individuals can take to protect themselves from online threats.

Emerging Threats, Vulnerabilities, & Challenges in the Cybersecurity Ecosystem

October 13, 2009: In co-ordination with National Cybersecurity Month, TechAmerica hosted Emerging Threats, Vulnerabilities, & Challenges in the Cybersecurity Ecosystem in the U.S. Capitol.  Speakers included:

• Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity, Science and Technology; Committee on Homeland Security
• Vinny Gullotto, General Manager, Microsoft Malware Protection Center, Microsoft
• Uri Rivner, Head of New Technologies, Consumer Identity Protection, RSA
• Dr. Eric Cole, Cyber Security Senior Fellow, Lockheed Martin Corporation
• Kristin Lovejoy, Director, IBM CloudBurst Project Office, Corporate Security Strategy, IBM
• John McCumber, Strategic Programs Manager, Symantec

Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY) Presentation at TechAmerica's Cybersecurity Briefing in the U.S. Capitol

Trusted Identities:  The Intersection of Identity Management & Cyber Security

September 22, 2009: TechAmerica hosted its second ID Management Series event, which focused on how do we move forward with the recommendations from the National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC) report to the President on Identity Management Strategy and the President's 60 Day Cyber Security Review.  Panelists included:

• Thomas Oscherwitz, Vice President of Government Affairs & Chief Privacy Officer, ID Analytics, Inc. and Chair, TechAmerica ID Management Committee
• Bruce McConnell, Cybersecurity Counselor to the National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD) Deputy Under Secretary
• Sonya Smith, Deputy, Information Assurance & Critical Infrastructure Protection Team, Department of the Navy Chief Information Office
• Randy Sabett, Partner, Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP and Commissioner for the Commission on Cyber Security for the 44th Presidency
• Guy Copeland, Vice President, CSC and Chair National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC) Identity Issues Task Force

TechAmerica VP Speaks at Google on Cybersecurity

June 26, 2009:

TechAmerica’s Liesyl Franz, Vice President for Information Security and Global Public Policy, was a panelist on, June 26, 2009, at Google’s D.C. Talks event on "Developing A National Cybersecurity Strategy."  Other panelists included:

• Ellen Doneski, Chief of Staff, U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation;
• Richard Hale, Chief Information Insurance Executive, Defense Information Systems Agency; and
• Philip Reitinger, Deputy Undersecetary of National Protection & Programs Directorate, U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

TechAmerica Press Conference Lauding President Obama's Commitment to Cyber Security

May 29, 2009: TechAmerica and several leading security and privacy professionals from our nation's leading companies offered strong praise for the release of the Obama Administration’s 60-Day Cyber Security Review, calling its recommendations a "historic step in the right direction" towards protecting America’s critical infrastructure against cyber attack at a press conference at the TechAmerica DC office.  Speakers included:

• Phil Bond, President, TechAmerica;
• Charles Croom, Cybersecurity VP, Lockheed Martin;
• Phil Dunkelberger, CEO, PGP Encryption Software; and
• Suzanne Magee, President & CEO, TechGuard Security;
• Harriet Pearson, Chief Privacy Officer, IBM; and
• Enrique Salem, CEO, Symantec.

Watch the Event on C-SPAN

Staff Contact

Liesyl Franz (bio)
Vice President, Information Security Programs and Global Public Policy
202.682.4434
liesyl.franz@techamerica.org

Jennifer Kerber (bio)
Vice President, Federal & Homeland Security Policy
703.284.5337
jennifer.kerber@techamerica.org

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