Industry Group Endorses Call for Global Cyber Security Group to Share Vital Information: CATAAlliance expands research & advocacy for public safety, advanced security, and interoperability excellence

Ottawa, February 21, 2012…Canada’s largest high tech trade association, CATAAlliance, formally endorsed today the call for the establishment of a Global Cyber Security Group.

The idea for this Group was recently put forward by Vivek Kundra, the former U.S. Federal Government CIO, and current EVP of Salesforce.com as a means to share vital security information, in the same way as models such as the World Health Organization (WHO).

In a recent interview Kundra said, “As most of the world is now interconnected via the web, a WHO-like cyber security body could share information about risks and collaborate on a global level, much like the WHO does when assessing epidemics.”

CATAAlliance CEO, John Reid, agreed, stating “ We are for open systems and the open sharing of information.  When it comes to cyber security, no one is geographically constrained. Canada (as are other nations) is interconnected within the global grid which opens up significant opportunity but also exposes us to risks and threats.”

CATAAlliance considers “Advanced Security” to involve different aspects of security, including physical, procedural and technological security. These different aspects manifest themselves in a number of areas including cyber-security, border security and critical infrastructure protection.  Advanced technology, CATA’s raison d-etre, is an “enabler” to better assist business and government to identify and address their security requirements.

Reid concluded, “One of our goals is to better inform and assist businesses and governments in their participation in, and management of, corporate, public and national security issues. We are calling for the creation of a Global Cyber Security Group.”

++ Action Item: Please contact CATA VP of Research jajang nurjaman at email jajangn01@gmail.com for background on the CATAAlliance Public Safety, Advanced Security & Interoperability Forum established to share best practice expertise, advocate for supportive public policy and afford executives opportunities to expand their network of professional contacts. One of its goals is to better inform and assist businesses and governments in their participation in, and management of, corporate, public and national security issues.

Ps You can join Vivek Kundra for dinner at 27th Annual CATAAlliance Innovation and Leadership Awards Gala Dinner on May 30, 2012 at the Telfer School of Management, University of Ottawa.