February 15, 2000

Fact Sheet

                              THE WHITE HOUSE

                       Office of the Press Secretary
________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release                    February 15, 2000


                                Fact Sheet

      Strengthening Cyber Security through Public-Private Partnership

Today the President and members of his Cabinet met with leaders of Internet
and e-commerce companies, civil liberties organizations, and security
experts to jointly announce actions strengthening Internet and computer
network security.  This meeting follows last month?s release by the
President of the National Plan for Information Systems Protection, which
establishes the first-ever national strategy for protecting the nation?s
computer networks from deliberate attacks.

During today?s meeting, industry executives announced their intention to
join others to create an Internet industry mechanism to share information
on cyber attacks, vulnerabilities and security practices to better respond
to cyber-attacks and deliberate intrusions into computer networks.
Recently, other industries such as banking and finance, and major
telecommunications carriers, have created industry partnerships for
cyber-security.

The President also announced immediate steps the government will take to
strength security for our nation?s computer systems:

Accelerated Spending on Cyber Security - A $9 million budget supplemental
for Fiscal Year 2000, jump-starting key initiatives for cyber-security
contained in the President?s FY2001 $2 billion budget request for
cyber-security. The request will accelerate new programs to educate
Americans for cyber-security careers, build a system for protecting Federal
government computers, and create a new Institute for Information
Infrastructure Protection.

Research and Technology Development for Information Infrastructure
Development - President Clinton supports federal government research and
technology development for information infrastructure protection that the
private sector does not have sufficient market incentives to generate on
its own.  The centerpiece of the federal government?s efforts in this area
will be the Institute for Information Infrastructure Protection (I3P), for
which the President has requested $50 million in his Fiscal Year 2001
budget.  The President has also requested a supplemental appropriation of
$4 million for Fiscal Year 2000 to jumpstart the Institute?s preparations.
Science Advisor Neal Lane and NSC National Coordinator Dick Clarke will
meet this Friday with members of the President?s Committee of Advisors on
Science and Technology and other computer security experts, research
specialists, and industry leaders in an effort to help fill the gaps in the
nation?s research agenda for computer network security.

Partnership for Critical Infrastructure Security - Secretary Daley will
participate in the first meeting of the Partnership for Critical
Infrastructure Security next week to maximize cooperation between
government and private sector initiatives for cyber-security.  Since the
vast majority of the United States? critical infrastructures are owned and
operated by private industry, the Partnership recognizes and acknowledges
that the Federal government alone cannot protect these infrastructures or
assure the delivery of services over them. The Partnership will explore
ways in which industry and government can jointly address the risks to the
nation?s critical infrastructures.  It will provide a forum in which the
various infrastructure sectors can meet to address issues relating to
cross-sector interdependencies, explore common approaches and experiences,
and engage other key professional and business communities that have an
interest in infrastructure assurance.  By doing so, the Partnership hopes
to raise awareness, promote understanding, and, when appropriate, serve as
a catalyst for action.

Private sector membership in the Partnership is open to infrastructure
owners and operators; providers of infrastructure hardware, software, and
services; risk management and investment professionals; and other members
of the business community who are stakeholders in the critical
infrastructures.  Government representation will include state and local
governments as well as Federal agencies and departments responsible for
working with the critical infrastructure sectors and for providing
functional support for the protection of those infrastructures.

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