ITAA Unveils Information Security Awareness Certification Program; New Initiative Designed to Help Organizations Bolster their Cyber Defenses.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 17, 2003

The Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) today unveiled the Information Security Awareness Certification (I-ACERT) program. Delivered by online test, the I-ACERT program is designed to help organizations in every industry assess the cyber security strengths and weaknesses of their computer users.

"Information security is a matter of people, processes and technology," said ITAA President Harris N. Miller. "Several certification programs exist to test the information security skills of technical professionals. The I-ACERT program is a testing resource for the rest of us-non-technical individuals who use a computer and network every day to get the job done. We are confident that the I-ACERT program will be widely adopted by companies, government agencies and other organizations interested in better managing the people-related risks of information security."

The ITAA Information Security Awareness Certification program covers topics that computer users need to know to avoid potentially costly cyber security mistakes. Test subjects include computer security, Internet security, passwords, viruses and harmful software, computer ethics, physical security, sensitive information, ID and data information theft.

The 40-question test takes approximately 30 minutes and is delivered on-line by Brainbench, Inc., an industry leader in skills assessment. To gain I-ACERT certification for the organization, 90 percent of its computer users must take the test and 85 percent must pass the test with a score of 2.75 or better on a five-point scale. Individual test takers passing the test receive a certificate of achievement.

According to Brainbench Chief Executive Officer Michael Russiello, "As a respected voice for the IT industry, ITAA has for many years provided thought leadership in the area of Information Security. Brainbench is pleased to have collaborated with ITAA to deliver this much-needed educational program. The Information Security Awareness assessment is delivered via our proven online skills measurement platform that is accessible from any web-enabled computer."

The I-ACERT program is an efficient, effective way for organizations to mitigate risks associated with computer intrusions by base-lining information security awareness and assuring that all employees using computers on the job use a common set of best practices. Program benefits include:

-- Consistent measurement across the enterprise provided in a

vendor-neutral mode

-- Immediate results reporting and identification of awareness

deficiencies

-- Self-administered study guides, comparable to a Department of

Motor Vehicles test preparation pamphlet, that save

test-takers time and effort by providing a concise outline of

materials to be tested

-- "Always on" test scheduling, available without burdensome

administrative details and red-tape

-- Identification of vulnerabilities and the need for follow-up

training

The I-ACERT program is available on a per seat or site license basis. Volume discounts may apply. The test is also available to individuals interested in professional development. For additional program details, visit the ITAA website at www.itaa.org.

The Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) provides global public policy, business networking, and national leadership to promote the continued rapid growth of the IT industry. ITAA consists of over 400 corporate members throughout the U.S., and a global network of 49 countries' IT associations. The Association plays the leading role in issues of IT industry concern including information security, taxes and finance policy, digital intellectual property protection, telecommunications competition, workforce and education, immigration, online privacy and consumer protection, government IT procurement, human resources and e-commerce policy. ITAA members range from the smallest IT start-ups to industry leaders in the Internet, software, IT services, ASP, digital content, systems integration, telecommunications, and enterprise solution fields. For more information visit www.itaa.org or www.itaa.org/infosec. The ITAA I-ACERT Certification program is managed by ITAA Services, Inc.

With more than 4 million registered users and over 425 different skill tests, Brainbench pioneered online skills testing to measure the skills of employees and consultants that are crucial to a company's bottom-line success. Utilizing the largest ISO 9001 library of tests, companies rely on Brainbench to help them measure, track, and improve their employees' vital professional skills, with online skills measurement solutions that improve retention, training success, customer satisfaction, and profitability. Corporate customers include Wells Fargo, Key Bank, EDS, Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein (DrKW), H&R Block, IBM, Interwoven, Manpower, Qwest, TAC Worldwide, U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), NASA, and Verizon. Strategic Investors include Manpower and Thomson Corporation.