Survey shows need for more public-private collaboration on cyber security
The public and private sectors need to collaborate and share more information if cyber security is to be maintained, according to the 2008 Critical Connections study released June 2 by Cupertino, Calif.-based Symantec and Austin-based Dell Computers. The study covers respondents’ awareness of and attitude toward the proposed National Cyber Security Initiative, which would allocate more than $30 billion in federal money over the next 10 years toward securing the nation’s computer network.
A large percentage of government respondents — 68 percent of the 200 federal respondents and 48 percent of the 200 state and local respondents — said more public/private collaboration on cyber security is needed. A majority of all respondents, public and private, said they are under an increased threat from cyber attacks, such as data breeches, compared to 2007, and 82 percent are giving cyber security concerns higher priority.
The central topics explored in the report will be discussed during Symantec’s Government Symposium in Washington on July 31. The entire report is available at www.symantec.com/symposium.