Security Research Alliance Formed by Cisco, Lucent, and Sun Microsystems

Strategic Insights -

Four leading information security and networking vendors – Cisco Systems, Lucent Technologies, Network Associates, and Sun Microsystems – have joined forces to establish the Security Research Alliance. This alliance aims to advance security research, enhance communication, and facilitate collaboration among industry experts, IT professionals, and vendors. The group's primary objectives include providing better communication of advanced security research projects, conducting regular peer review meetings, and collaborating on research projects to increase the odds of transferring substantial research innovations into commercial security products.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Security Research Alliance is a vendor-neutral organization that brings together four leading information security and networking vendors to advance security research and enhance communication among industry experts, IT professionals, and vendors.
  • The alliance has three stated goals: IT Community Education, Information Collaboration, and Faster Technology Transfer.
  • The first annual Security Research "Crystal Ball" Symposium will take place in Los Angeles on April 13, featuring presentations from world-renowned security researchers and an open panel with security researchers from each of the charter Alliance member organizations.
  • The symposium will also feature a keynote speech by a representative from the U.S. Government's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
  • The Security Research Alliance will be chaired by a representative from one of the member organizations on a rotating basis, with each chairperson serving a one-year term.
  • The organization's first chairperson will be Dr. Terry Benzel, vice president of the NAI Labs Advanced Security Research Division at Network Associates, Inc.
  • The alliance has significant potential to evolve the information security market by providing a real-time feedback loop between security customers and vendors.
  • The stated goals of the alliance include providing better communication of advanced security research projects, conducting regular peer review meetings, and collaborating on research projects.

Statistics:

  • Four leading information security and networking vendors have joined forces to establish the Security Research Alliance. (Cisco Systems, Lucent Technologies, Network Associates, and Sun Microsystems)
  • The alliance has three stated goals: IT Community Education, Information Collaboration, and Faster Technology Transfer.
  • The first annual Security Research "Crystal Ball" Symposium will take place in Los Angeles on April 13.
  • The symposium will feature presentations from world-renowned security researchers and an open panel with security researchers from each of the charter Alliance member organizations.
  • The symposium will also feature a keynote speech by a representative from the U.S. Government's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
  • The Security Research Alliance will be chaired by a representative from one of the member organizations on a rotating basis, with each chairperson serving a one-year term.

Sources:

  • M2 PressWire - 28 January 1999 - LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES: Cisco, Lucent, Network Associates and Sun Microsystems form security research alliance (C)1994-99 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD RDATE:270199
  • International Data Corporation (Chris Christiansen, program director)
  • Cisco Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: CSCO)
  • Lucent Technologies (NYSE: LU)
  • Network Associates, Inc. (Nasdaq: NETA)
  • Sun Microsystems, Inc. (NASDAQ: SUNW)
  • NAI Labs Advanced Security Research Division at Network Associates, Inc. (Dr. Terry Benzel)
  • Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)