US Cyber Security Requires Greater R&D and Public-Private Partnerships, Software Industry Says

Rising cyber security threats require comprehensive, strategic national efforts in the area of basic research and development (R&D), a leading software industry executive said today.

Timothy Brown, Vice President and Chief Architect of Security Management for software company CA, Inc., (www.ca.com) testified before the House Committee on Science and Technology, Subcommittee on Research and Science Education, on priorities for national cyber security R&D programs. Specifically, he described several trends that are fueling future cyber crime and security problems, including rising Internet connectivity and data-sharing across the economy. Brown outlines four key recommendations for federal policy, including:

• A stronger public-private partnership in cyber R&D;
• Increased national investments in basic R&D;
• Greater efforts in higher education to develop the next generation of security professionals; and
• Increased efforts to educate the public about cyber threats and actions consumers can take to protect themselves.

BSA recently commended the Obama Administration's new national cyber space plan. As that plan was being developed, BSA offered detailed recommendations to the White House, including creating a more robust government-industry partnership with increased transparency and clearer operating procedures, and a more comprehensive, strategic national cyber security R&D program.

"BSA applauds the committee's recognition that cyber security must be treated as a top national priority," said Robert Holleyman, President and CEO of BSA. "BSA's publicly traded member companies invested a combined $43 billion in R&D in 2008. No one invests more or leads more on cyber security than our member companies, and no one is more committed to ensuring confidence in the online world. The software industry will continue to partner with the federal government and others to tackle this enormous challenge."

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