USACM Announces Nine Principles to Secure Computing and Network Systems

New York, NY, May 23, 2017—The Association for Computing Machinery’s US Public Policy Council (USACM) today issued a set of guidelines for organizations to protect the security of their computing and network systems. In its Statement on Computing and Network Security, USACM identified nine principles that entities should follow to protect their systems from threats. The group highlights the need for robust protections to secure computing and network systems and proposes that these recommendations be adopted going forward.

Society is dependent on computing and network systems. The reliability and robustness of computing and network systems is an integral part of continued trust and innovation of the digital ecosystem. The interconnectedness of these systems has enabled a world of opportunity for discovery and innovation. At the same time, it has opened the door to myriad threats.

As computing and network systems mature, evolve, and adopt greater value, malicious actors have done the same. Securing the landscape is essential, and entities need to proactively address this ongoing challenge.

“The benefits afforded by computing and networked systems can be partially vitiated by risks to those systems. To fully reap the benefits, it is vital to properly secure systems and protect them from threats,” said Stuart Shapiro, USACM Chair.

Computing and network systems are increasingly intertwined with society. The scale of adverse consequences has increased with this integration. “Consequences of vulnerable computing and network systems can range from inconvenient to devastating. In the constantly evolving landscape of cyber threats, organizations must prepare to deal with all the possibilities,” said Jeremy Epstein, USACM Vice Chair.

The Statement on Computing and Network Security is the second in a series of publicly-released policy statements by the Council. The next statement in the series will address the privacy and security of IoT.

About the ACM US Public Policy Council

The ACM US Public Policy Council (USACM) serves as the focal point for ACM's interactions with the US government in matters of US public policy related to information technology. ACM US Public Policy Council statements represent the views of the Council and do not necessarily represent the views of the Association.

About ACM

ACM, the Association for Computing Machinery, is the world's largest educational and scientific computing society, uniting educators, researchers, and professionals to inspire dialogue, share resources, and address the field's challenges. ACM strengthens the computing profession's collective voice through strong leadership, promotion of the highest standards, and recognition of technical excellence. ACM supports the professional growth of its members by providing opportunities for life-long learning, career development, and professional networking.

Contact:
Jim Ormond
ACM Media Relations
212-626-0505
[email protected]

Renee Dopplick
ACM Public Policy
212-626-0543
[email protected]

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