Public-Private Partnership Can Reduce Cyber Vulnerabilities
President Bush directed the development of a National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace to ensure that the United States can protect its critical infrastructure. The objective of this project is to create government and private-industry partnerships and to encourage vigilance by private citizens to reduce vulnerabilities in cyberspace. According to the National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace Report, released February 2003, this goal is possible.The administration stresses that it does not want the government running the Internet. It will allow free-market forces and user awareness to achieve national cyber security. The report emphasizes the importance of software development and the creation of private consortiums to ensure security of the Internet.
Among the recommendations in the draft, one of the highlights suggests small businesses regularly update virus-prevention software and use caution when opening e-mail from unknown sources. The report states that as a national priority, a public-private dialogue should identify and address ways that the government can achieve national cyber security and reduce the burden of security on home users and small businesses.
