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Security Research Alliance Forms to Pursue Joint Security Research Contracts and Educate IT Decision-Makers

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Four major information security and networking vendors have joined forces to establish the Security Research Alliance, a collaborative effort aimed at advancing security research and education for IT decision-makers. The Alliance's member companies, including Cisco Systems, Lucent Technologies, Network Associates, and Sun Microsystems, have committed to working together to secure the desktops and networks of the future. Through the Alliance, they will conduct advanced security research, collaborate on research projects, and sponsor educational forums to give senior corporate IT decision-makers a window into the world of next-generation security technology.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Security Research Alliance is a vendor-neutral organization that brings together leading information security and networking vendors to advance security research and education.
  • Member companies, including Cisco Systems, Lucent Technologies, Network Associates, and Sun Microsystems, have an established internally and/or externally funded research practice, assessing and solving information security challenges.
  • The Alliance aims to provide better communication of advanced security research projects and findings to IT decision-makers through an annual symposium and web site.
  • Information collaboration is a key aspect of the Alliance, with regular peer review meetings to disseminate information among members and facilitate joint bids on new research contracts.
  • The Alliance encourages faster technology transfer by collaborating on research projects to increase the odds of substantial research innovations being transferred into commercial security products.
  • The first annual Security Research "Crystal Ball" Symposium will be held in Los Angeles, April 13, featuring presentations from world-renowned security researchers and an open panel discussion with security researchers from each charter member organization.
  • The U.S. Government's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) will deliver a keynote speech at the symposium, highlighting the organization's commitment to advancing security research.
  • The Alliance will be chaired by a representative from one of the member organizations on a rotating basis, with Dr. Terry Benzel, from Network Associates, serving as the first chairperson.
  • The Alliance represents a significant opportunity for commercial vendors to discuss blue-sky research with customers and for IT professionals to make more informed decisions about network security.

Statistics:

  • The Alliance comprises four leading information security and networking vendors.
  • Each member company has an internally and/or externally funded research practice, with a focus on solving information security challenges.
  • The Alliance aims to provide better communication of advanced security research projects and findings to IT decision-makers through an annual symposium and web site.
  • The "Crystal Ball" Symposium will feature presentations from 5-7 world-renowned security researchers.
  • The event will be attended by senior corporate IT decision-makers from major organizations.
  • The U.S. Government's DARPA will deliver a keynote speech at the symposium.
  • The Alliance will have a rotating chairperson, with Dr. Terry Benzel serving as the first chairperson.

Sources:

  • "Security Research Alliance Forms to Pursue Joint Security Research Contracts, Educate IT Decision-Makers" (PR Newswire, Jan. 27)
  • Chris Christiansen, program director at International Data Corporation (quoted in PR Newswire, Jan. 27)
  • Cisco Systems, Inc. (http://www.cisco.com)
  • Lucent Technologies (http://www.lucent.com)
  • Network Associates, Inc. (http://www.nai.com)
  • Sun Microsystems, Inc. (http://www.sun.com)

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