EU pushes for web security initiative
System will guard against internet attack, says agency
European Union member states are pushing for the creation of a cross-border monitoring system to fend off future internet attacks. Representatives of EU IT security agency ENISA - which meets tomorrow to formalise future plans - believe the development of the network will allow new forms of malicious code and online attacks to be detected much quicker. The European Network and Information Security Agency plans to use the system to reduce threats to critical national infrastructures (CNI), such as utilities, banking and telecommunications, which are becoming increasingly dependent on the internet. 'The agency will create a mechanism designed to support effective response to cross-border security and will hopefully help prevent future cyber and terrorist attacks,' said Francisco Garc¡a-Mor n. acting director general of DG Informatics at the European Commission. And greater cross border information sharing on new IT security threats is crucial if Europe is to become the world's largest, most creative knowledge-based economy by 2010, he says. 'Attacks against infrastructure cause damage to government and businesses, as well as citizens,' said Garc¡a-Mor n, who also sits on the ENISA management board. 'Virus attacks are far too frequent and denial of service attacks are threatening businesses on the net.' But chairperson of ENISA's management board Kristiina Pietikainen, says the agency's core focus must be on monitoring IT security threats and working with member states and businesses to alert them of major threats. 'How much European regulation can you put on national infrastructures?' said Pietikainen. 'At the moment it is none whatsoever.' 'ENISA is not a policy making body but it should push towards helping the European Union's critical national infrastructure and security through information gathering and education,' she said. The agency also plans to build stronger ties with private sector firms, which are increasingly operating more parts of the CNI, says Garc¡a-Mor n. 'The important tasks for ENISA is to gather all the information, analyse it and share it with the European Community,' he said. 'It also needs to develop a dialogue with industry and develop best practice.' Earlier this year ENISA was given a ? ¬34.3m (£23.9m), five-year, budget to identify and advise EU member states on emerging security risks (Computing, 21 October).
Reproduced from an article published by vnunet.com
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