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New Plan Emphasizes Public-Private Partnerships and Global Approach
The Obama Administration deserves credit for elevating the debate over national cyber security policy and bringing fresh thinking to bear, the Business Software Alliance (BSA) said today. The Administration’s new cyber security strategy is comprehensive in scope and raises many issues that will require further deliberations and careful implementation, the association said.
BSA President and CEO Robert Holleyman attended today’s White House announcement of the new strategy, and BSA was consulted on the plan as it was developed.
“The software and computer hardware industries strongly endorse the President’s view that cyber security must be treated as a top national priority,” said BSA President and CEO Robert Holleyman. “The White House strategy is largely consistent with BSA’s recommendations, especially the emphasis on White House leadership and international partnerships between government and industry.
“As this strategy is implemented, it must reflect three fundamental principles: technological innovation without constraints; economic growth; and international partnerships. Without all three, America’s cyber security will suffer,” Holleyman added. The plan’s emphasis on consumer privacy, workforce training, and research and development are also helpful, he said.
“BSA particularly looks forward to assisting the Administration on the international front, leveraging our offices and relationships with business and government leaders around the world,” Holleyman added.
In March, BSA co-hosted a meeting of information technology industry executives with White House cyber space adviser Melissa Hathaway and submitted detailed recommendations on the strategy. BSA suggested:
“BSA’s publicly traded member companies invested a combined $43 billion on research and development in 2008, and security is at the heart of all we do,” Holleyman said. “No one invests more or leads more on cyber security issues than we do, and no one is more committed to ensuring confidence in the online world.
“We appreciate that the White House solicited our input, and we look forward to a continuing dialogue,” added Holleyman. “Everyone involved needs to roll up their sleeves and work together to ensure that our efforts truly tighten security by maintaining robust innovation policies, allowing economic growth to go forward, and taking an international, collaborative approach.”
Additional Information: Click here to view BSA’s cyber security recommendations to the Obama Administration. Click here to view BSA’s 2009 Technology Policy Agenda.
The Business Software Alliance (www.bsa.org)is the voice of the world's software industry and its hardware partners before governments and in the international marketplace. BSA programs foster technology innovation through education and policy initiatives that promote copyright protection, cyber security, trade and e-commerce. BSA members include Adobe, Apple, Autodesk, Avid, Bentley Systems, Borland, CA, Cadence Design Systems, Cisco Systems, CNC Software/Mastercam, Corel, CyberLink, Dell, EMC, HP, IBM, Intel, Intuit, McAfee, Microsoft, Monotype Imaging, PTC, Quark, Quest Software, SAP, Siemens, Dassault Systemes SolidWorks, Sybase, Symantec, Synopsys, and The MathWorks.
Lars Andersonmedia@bsa.org202-715-1511
Dale Curtisdalec@bsa.org202-530-5136
United States
