Industry group to tackle information security

Nineteen of the leading high-tech companies in the US this week announced the formation of a new Information Technology Information Sharing and Analysis Center (IT-ISAC) to co-operate on security issues. The objective of the new body is to enhance the availability, confidentiality, and integrity of networked information systems.17 Jan 2001

In response to a recent increase in the number and nature of attacks on networked information systems, the companies, including Microsoft, IBM, Intel, Cisco Systems and AT&T, have funded the body.

The IT-ISAC is a not-for-profit corporation that will allow the US IT industry to report and exchange information concerning electronic incidents, threats, attacks, vulnerabilities, solutions and countermeasures, best security practices and other protective measures. The organisation is a voluntary, industry-led initiative with the goal of responding to broad-based security threats and reducing the impact of major incidents.

Membership in the IT-ISAC is only open to US-based IT companies.