NFIB

Bush Administration Calls on Americans to Increase Cybersecurity
12/04/2003

At the inaugural National Cyber Security Summit, held yesterday in Santa Clara, Calif., Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge called on businesses, individuals and technology companies to take an active role in strengthening cybersecurity.

"Eighty-five percent of our nation's critical infrastructure, including the cyber network that controls it, is owned and operated by the private sector," Ridge said. "As such, we not only need businesses to be active partners with us in securing these vital assets, we need businesses -- we need those of you here today to lead the way."

Ridge also discussed the progress made on President Bush's "National Strategy to Secure Cybersecurity," which was released earlier this year.

The Department of Homeland Security has formed a separate division for cybersecurity along with the U.S. Computer Emergency Response Team (U.S. CERT).

"(U.S. CERT's) charge is to ensure that the necessary information to repel an attack is distributed across all critical infrastructure sectors during a time of attack or heightened level of alert," Ridge said. "Additionally, the U.S. CERT will work closely with the private sector and technology experts to enhance our warning and response time to a cyber attack -- speed action when action is critical."