IT groups create critical infrastructure council

IT-SAC

The Information Technology Association of America is one of several founding members of the IT Sector Coordinating Council (IT-SCC), created to serve as a focal point for critical infrastructure protection collaboration and information sharing. IT companies and trade groups jointly created the council.

"Critical infrastructure, including IT infrastructure, is largely owned and operated by the private sector, and it is essential that companies, government agencies and other stakeholders work in true partnership on the best strategies to protect against attack," said Harris Miller, ITAA’s president, in a statement announcing the council’s formation.

"The combined, coordinated efforts of strong public/private partnerships in both security policy development and operational security efforts are key to protecting America's critical infrastructures," said Guy Copeland, a vice president at Computer Sciences Corp., in a written statement.

Copeland is also president of the IT Sector's Information Sharing and Analysis Center (IT-ISAC), which will coordinate with the IT-SCC on critical infrastructure issues. Other sectors that form the country’s critical infrastructure have similar councils in place.

Critical infrastructure, defined in a Clinton-era presidential directive, includes systems that are vital for the country to function, such as transportation, utilities and IT.

IT-ISAC is responsible for maintaining operational security monitoring, response and information sharing, while IT-SCC will take a strategic approach toward policies for public- and private-sector organizations to prevent IT attacks.

Once group members approve them, IT-SCC policies will be shared with the Homeland Security Department and other federal agencies.