Our Issues
Cyber SecuritySince 2002, TechNet and its members have worked closely with the Administration and Congress in efforts to fight terrorism and strengthen our national security by strengthening cyber security. TechNet Leads Industry Initiatives to Strengthen Cyber Security TechNet urges the Administration and Congress to support voluntary, private-sector initiatives that enhance the security of the nation’s information infrastructure and to refrain from imposing regulation which would stifle innovation and create a false sense of security. With over 80 percent of the Internet operated by the private sector, protecting our enterprise systems is not only a practical safeguard against business losses, it is a patriotic duty to secure the nation’s information infrastructure. TechNet has led industry efforts to invest time and capital in information security risk management and implementation of known best practices. Regulatory mandates –- requiring adherence to a government-defined set of security criteria -- could be harmful and even dangerous. Security needs vary according to specific situations and users. Technology evolves rapidly; any codification of security measures would be quickly rendered obsolete by advances in both attack methods and new security technologies. Organizations must have flexibility to assess their own risks and adapt to a changing environment. Regulation would divert corporate resources from implementing improvements to demonstrating compliance. TechNet believes that market forces will reward companies that protect their own and their customers’ security and punish companies that incur losses in operations, sales, reputation, intellectual property and customer base through negligence. |