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DEFENDING CYBERSPACE 2008
ADDRESSING CYBER TERRORISM

Conference web site:Defending Cyberspace

America is under widespread attack in cyberspace. Our freedom to use cyberspace is threatened by the actions of criminals, terrorists, and nations alike…The magnitude of cost, in terms of real dollars dedicated to defensive measures, lost intellectual capital and fraud cannot be overestimated…Unlike the air, land and sea domains, we lack dominance in cyberspace and could grow increasingly vulnerable if we do not fundamentally change how we view this battle-space.

--General James E. Cartwright, Commander, United States Strategic Command, testimony, March 21, 2007

[C]yberspace is far from secure today. The United States faces real risks that adversaries will exploit vulnerabilities in the nation’s critical information systems, thereby causing considerable suffering and damage. -- National Research Council, Toward a Safer and More Secure Cyberspace, 2007

IDEA

The Park City Center and its partners are convening a first annual symposium on the increasing threat of cyber terrorism. Cyber terrorism threatens to extract confidential financial and other strategic information from governments, corporations and individuals. Using increasingly sophisticated methods, hostile organizations gain access to critical intellectual property, financial data, trade and national secrets. Once attacked, government organizations and corporations are understandably reluctant to discuss the impact on their business or mission. Those that do speak publicly talk only in the most general terms. However, in the background, these corporations and government organizations are taking substantial steps to counter and defend themselves. These steps include technical solutions and organizational, cultural and procedural adaptations. While there are important lessons to learn, information sharing is done only in the most confidential manner. To achieve the most effective cyberspace protection, it is critical that a secure system for sharing information is designed and that public policies are adopted to facilitate and advance these protections.

APPROACH

The first seminar will focus on the nature of the threat, techniques to counter it, as well as secure methods to share best practices and needed policies to address confidentiality, liability and data security. A transition paper for the new Administration will be developed. The Park City Center for Public Policy, in conjunction with Imadgen LLC is convening this first exploratory seminar to begin the dialogue. The Park City Center seeks the participation and also the sponsorship of other organizations for which this is a critical issue. The invitation only seminar will convene May 7, 2008, in Washington, D.C.

TEAM MEMBERS

Park City Center for Public Policy

Imadgen, LLC

Information Technology Association of America

Johns Hopkins University

National Association of Manufacturers

Northrop Grumman