U.S. Chamber Hails Success of Public-Private Partnerships in Cybersecurity Report

Business Groups to Take Message to Capitol Hill this Week

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, along with the Business Software Alliance, the Center for Democracy & Technology, the Internet Security Alliance, and TechAmerica, released a white paper to help guide policymakers in strengthening the nation’s cybersecurity through public-private partnerships.

Improving Our Nation’s Cybersecurity through the Public-Private Partnership emphasizes the importance of regular and meaningful collaboration between the public and private sectors to protect the nation’s economy and the privacy of citizens. The growing sophistication of cyber threats and the interconnected nature of the Internet put cybersecurity beyond the reach of any single organization.

“No organization or government, no matter how well financed or powerful, can address cybersecurity issues alone,” said Ann Beauchesne, the Chamber’s vice president of National Security and Emergency Preparedness. “Businesses work diligently to enhance the security and resilience of their cyber networks and are committed to continuing these efforts in partnership with the government.”

In conjunction with today’s release of the white paper, the Chamber and its partners will take their message to Capitol Hill on Friday, March 11, where they will hold briefings for Senate and House lawmakers, staff, and other members of the public. Each of the five groups will present their perspectives on the paper and will take part in a thirty-minute question-and-answer session.

The U.S. Chamber and these organizations embrace the voluntary, public-private partnerships model as envisioned in the National Infrastructure Protection Plan and outlined in the White House’s Cyberspace Policy Review. Using the partnership model, the organizations make a series of recommendations for joint action by the private sector and government that leverages the Cyberspace Policy Review in several important ways. Among the topics covered in the paper are risk management, information sharing and privacy, and education and awareness.

“In order to safely secure America’s infrastructure and citizens, companies must work together, government must coordinate its efforts, and industry and government must collaborate,” Beauchesne said.

The complete report is available at:
http://www.uschamber.com/sites/default/files/issues/defense/files/2011cybersecuritywhitepaper.pdf

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.

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