Registration Now Open for Cybersecurity Event

The Vermont Information Technology Center at Champlain College is sponsoring a free afternoon seminar entitled ?A National Perspective on Cybersecurity? from 1:00-4:00pm on July 31, 2003 at the Inn at Essex. The purpose of the session is to have an open dialogue regarding the meaning and significance of a cybersecurity strategy to Internet service providers, their customers, and the information security community. The "National Strategy to Secure CyberSpace", released by the White House in February 2003, calls for Internet service providers (ISPs) to adopt a code of conduct that includes cyber security practices and security related cooperation. Nearly every American has access to the Internet from home, work, school, and/or other public facilities, and our information-based economy is increasingly reliant on the Internet. The role of ISPs in maintaining security in cyberspace, therefore, is important to all of us.

The keynote speaker for the afternoon will be Phyllis A. Schneck, Ph.D., Vice President, Enterprise Services, eCommSecurity, Inc. and Chairman of the InfraGard National Executive Board. The afternoon program will consist of a panel session and workshop focusing on information security issues and is open to all interested parties. Local and national Internet service providers as well as Vermont technology ?consumers? are expected to participate.

In 2000, the Vermont Information Technology Center (VITC) established a working group of Vermont information security practitioners. Members come from all types of organizations and industries, including K-12 and higher education, health care, financial services, law enforcement (local, state, and federal), service providers, and government. Subsequently, the group elected to become the Vermont chapter of the national InfraGard organization in order to participate with similar groups on a national basis.

InfraGard is a cooperative undertaking between the U.S. Government (led by the FBI) and an association of businesses, academic institutions, state and local law enforcement agencies, and other participants dedicated to increasing the security of U.S. critical infrastructures. The goal of the Vermont InfraGard chapter "...is to facilitate communication and share expertise amongst peers." Gary Kessler, Information Security Director of VITC and Computer Networking Program Director at Champlain College, has chaired this group since its inception.

This event is sponsored in part by a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor.