FBI, SBA and Commerce Department Form Alliance to Promote
Information Technology Security for America's Small Businesses
Washington, DC - June 12, 2002 -
The nation's small businesses will have better access to computer and
information technology security resources, and be able to assess their
information security needs.
The National Infrastructure Protection
Center (NIPC) of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S.
Small Business Administration (SBA), and the Commerce Department's National
Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) today signed a partnership
agreement to provide computer and information technology security to
help small businesses across the nation safeguard their information
systems.
The interagency agreement was signed at
the NIPC's Second Annual InfraGard National Congress in Niagara Falls,
NY, and will serve to promote computer protection and security for America's
small businesses and to identify information security vulnerabilities.
The InfraGard Conference is being held
at the Holiday Inn Select, June 10-13, with attendance by private industry
representatives from the 65 local InfraGard chapters and the FBI InfraGard
coordinators from the 56 FBI field offices. A keynote addresses will
be delivered by Richard A. Clarke, special advisor to the President
for Cyberspace Security.
The NIPC, the SBA and NIST will cosponsor
an upcoming series of computer and information security workshops. The
workshops are scheduled for July 11 in Washington, D.C., at the SBA's
headquarters, August 2 in San Francisco at the SBA's San Francisco District
Office, and September 26 in Chicago at the Center for Information Technology
and Privacy Law at the John Marshall Law School.
The protection of information is one of
the most valuable assets of an organization, and is critical to the
operation of a small business. An increasing number of businesses rely
on information technology for storing, processing and communicating
information. Information security provides a sound foundation for business
success by safeguarding financial and customer records, and business
strategies. It serves to protect against threats and vulnerabilities
and to ensure business continuity.
Ninety-nine percent of all U.S. businesses
are small businesses of 500 employees or less. Small business is where
many of the innovations take place. Swifter, more flexible and often
more daring than big business, small firms produce many of the items
that fuel the nation's economy. A vulnerability common to a large percentage
of them could pose a threat to the national economy.
Emphasis will be placed on training small
business owners to identify the needed, cost-effective security products,
processes, and services making them more educated consumers. The workshops
will show business owners what tools and techniques are needed for good
information security and the technology used to safeguard critical information.
For more information on the computer security
workshop, visit online at http://csrc.nist.gov/securebiz/.
The U.S. Small Business Administration
provides financial, technical and management assistance to help Americans
start, run, and grow their businesses. For more information about all
of the SBA's programs for small businesses, call the SBA Answer Desk
at 1-800 U ASK SBA or TDD 704-344-6640, or visit the SBA s extensive
Web site at http://www.sba.gov.
The NIPC,www.nipc.gov
, serves as the focal point for threat assessment, warning, investigation,
and response for threats or attacks against critical government infrastructures.
Additional information on the NIPC's Second Annual InfraGard Congress
can be found online at http://www.infragard.net/.
NIST, www.nist.gov,
promotes the economic growth of the United States by working with industry
to develop and apply technology, measurement and standards.
CONTACT: |
|
|
Phil Bulman |
Cecelia Taylor
|
Debbie Weierman |
301-975-5661 |
202-401-3059 |
202-324-3691 |
bulman@nist.gov |
cecelia.taylor@sba.gov |
dweierman@fbi.gov |