Group of Leading Internet Executives Releases Statement On How To Improve Reliability and Security of the Internet

[William Knowles <wk () C4I ORG>]

http://www.gip.org/pr20000516a.htm

May 16, 2000, Paris -- A group of leading Internet executives said
today that cyber-related problems like the ILOVEYOU virus are
international in nature; therefore, effective information security
solutions must be pursued on an international basis. The Global
Internet Project (GIP) released a statement at this week's G-8
conference in Paris to help both businesses and governments prevent,
detect and respond to cyber attacks.

The GIP, whose members come from leading Internet companies
representing the telecommunications, software, financial services, and
content sectors, made specific recommendations to both the private
sector and to governments. The group called upon governments to "lead
by example" and ensure that their computer systems and networks are
secure and run in accordance with best information security practices.
GIP also called for more cooperation between businesses and law
enforcement agencies to detect and prevent attacks.

"The Internet is the foundation upon which e-business, e-government,
and e-everything are built," said John Patrick, IBM's Vice President
for Internet Technology and Chairman of the Global Internet Project.
"Making sure that foundation is robust, reliable, and secure will
require that corporations worldwide develop and use better security
technologies and practices. Both the IT industry and Internet users
are motivated to do this. The GIP members believe that the private
sector must take the lead, because regulation by national governments
will not solve this global problem -- innovation and investment by the
private sector will."

The group also called for improved physical security of
mission-critical systems as well as more investment in pre-competitive
research on new techniques for reducing the vulnerability of the
Internet and the computers that use it. "Security in all its manifest
forms will be needed if the Internet is to fulfill its promise as an
infrastructure for the conduct of electronic commerce," said Vint
Cerf, Senior Vice President for Internet Architecture and Technology
at WorldCom, Inc. "GIP's participating members are keenly aware of
this need and, as a group, encourage practical developments that will
facilitate the building and operation of an increasingly secure and
reliable Internet."

To read the full statement released today by the Global Internet
project, please click here. A media conference call with Vint Cerf of
WorldCom, a GIP principal member, will take place at 9:15am EST on
Wednesday, May 17. To register, email: tburton () itaa org or call
703-284-5305.

The Global Internet Project (GIP) is an international group of senior
executives committed to fostering the continued rapid growth of the
Internet worldwide. GIP participants are well-known leaders in the
Internet Revolution and represent companies based in Asia, Europe, and
North America. Dr. James Clark, former chairman of Netscape
Communications Corporation, founded the group. John Patrick, Vice
President for Internet Technology at IBM, is the current chairman of
the GIP. For more information on the group, visit the GIP Web site at
http://www.gip.org/ or contact GIP Executive Director Shannon Kellogg
at: skellogg () itaa org.

The Reliability and Security of the Internet
http://www.gip.org/gipwp0500.htm


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