The International Cyber Security Protection Alliance (ICSPA) has formed a strategic partnership with the European Law Enforcement Agency (Europol). The two organisations and ICSPA’s business members plan to work together to address cyber crime issues across the EU’s 27 member countries and other international partners in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand – which with the UK are known collectively as the “Five Eyes” nations.
“We aim to ensure that by working more closely together across our 27 EU member states and with international partners, business and law enforcement can collaborate in ways which will start to have a real impact on the unprecedented levels of cyber criminality which [are] causing significant harm to businesses and citizens on a global scale,” said Rob Wainwright, director of Europol.
Prime minister David Cameron said, “Our government has already injected an additional £650m to help improve our national infrastructure and protect against cybercrime, but the very nature of this threat calls for more than a national response – it demands a truly global response and that is what the International Cyber Security Protection Alliance is all about.”
The organisation is funded by annual membership fees from member companies, such as McAfee and Trend Micro, but EU funding is also being sought as well as cash from the members of the Five Eyes countries.
More income will come from projects known as International Cybercrime Assistance Programmes (ICAPs) and National and Regional CAPs (NCAPs). According to ICSPA, these are “specifically tailored projects of work both domestic and internationally-based, [which] will be funded by member companies and other institutions with business interests in identified nations and regional markets”.
At the official launch of the alliance this week, John Lyons, chief executive of ICSPA, said it was a unique initiative that combines business expertise and resources in support of online law enforcement.
“Today, is just the beginning of a wider business-led response to bringing about a safer and more secure Internet experience for all of us. We very much appreciate the support from our founding member businesses and look forward to welcoming many more in the years ahead,” he said.
Former UK home secretary David Blunkett MP and chairman of ICSPA added, “This partnership approach will aim to combine both the resources and the knowledge-base of those engaged in this collaborative venture to the mutual benefit of all.”
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Malcolm Marshall, UK Head of Information Security at KPMG, comments:
“The cost and complexity of pursuing cyber criminals across borders often deters companies from taking action. This, and the increasing volume of globally-distributed attacks, is making the case for a 'cyberspace Geneva Convention' stronger than ever. However, the harmonisation of international cyber laws, whilst ideal, is still a long way off. In the meantime, organisations need to improve basic security standards, protocols and intelligence to ready themselves for inevitable attacks.
“On the prevention front, funding for law enforcement must be met in equal measure by funding for educational programmes attracting young gifted hackers away from criminal or even terrorist gangs.”