CompTIA Symposium Highlights Workforce Challenges to IT Security, Introduces Solution to Federal Market.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 14, 2003

At a symposium hosted by CompTIA today, senior government, private sector and academic IT security officials emphasized the need for America's workforce to get cyber trained in order to combat mounting cyber security challenges. Against this backdrop, CompTIA formally introduced its IT certification, CompTIA Security+(TM), to the federal marketplace as a cost-effective solution to help agencies and federal workers quickly become cyber security proficient.

With the creation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the issue of cyber security has clearly entered the mainstream. Ensuring that America's IT dependence - driven by interconnected, networked technology - does not get exploited for malicious purposes, the DHS and the White House have vigilantly urged the public and private sectors to address the challenge of cyber security in a holistic manner, recommending that they focus not just on technology, but, importantly, on the "human element," too.

Amplifying this, the symposium's keynote speaker, Andy Purdy, cyber security advisor in the Department of Homeland Security, stated, "Cyber security has many moving parts, and can be seemingly daunting in scope. An essential element in making our networks safer demands that the cyber troops be effectively IT security trained."

Recent statistics bear this out, showing that human error, not technical malfunction, causes the bulk of IT security breaches. As was witnessed by panelists throughout the half-day-long symposium, most feel that increased IT security training and certification can greatly reduce this problem. "Certainly, technology is key toward maintaining the safety of our IT networks," noted panelist, Brian O'Higgins, chief technical officer and founder, Entrust. "But as key as the technology itself is, we know that many cyber security incidents could be prevented if the workforce was mobilized with the know-how to prepare for, identify, and tackle potential cyber incidents."

"CompTIA Security+ represents the first global standard for training and certifying IT workers with two or more years of computer networking experience," said John Venator, president and CEO of CompTIA. "Security+ comprehensively tests students on a broad range of IT security-related matters, such as access control, authentication, external attacks, the basics of cryptography, and operational and organizational security."

CompTIA Security+ was launched in December 2002, with significant input from US government, private sector, and academic IT security specialists.

"We've seen that a tool like Security+ can quickly and cost-effectively lay the needed security foundation to help protect IT networks," added Venator. "Across large and small enterprises, rapidly communicating a standardized set of instructions through Security+ can help make your workforce a powerful asset toward combating IT security challenges."

About CompTIA

CompTIA is a global trade association representing the business interests of the information technology industry. For more than 20 years CompTIA has provided research, networking and partnering opportunities to its members, developing standards and best practices and influencing the political, economic and educational arenas that impact IT worldwide. More information is at www.comptia.org.