Industry Connections Security Group formed

The IEEE Standards Association (IEEE-SA) has announced the launch of a new Industry Connections program called the Industry Connections Security Group (ICSG). The group, who's initial members include AVG Technologies, McAfee, Microsoft, Sophos, Symantec and Trend Micro, is aimed at improving collaboration between security companies. According to the announcement, ICSG members will focus on pooling their experience and resources to fight the ever increasing amount of security threats.

In a recent blog post, SophosLabs VP Mark Harris said that there has always been a history of collaboration in the security industry, but many of the "arrangements are still based on individual relationships rather than formal agreements". According to Harris, the group members intend to share even more information in such a way that all of the participants can benefit. "It’s been refreshing to work closely with what we would normally regard as competitors, to relatively quickly come up a proposal that works for us all."

As the number of online threats have grown significantly over the years, the ICSG's first working group will focus on malware, in hopes of making the security industry more effective. Additional ICSG working groups are also being planned and should be added "over time". Vincent Weafer, vice president, Symantec Security Response said “This new data sharing standard initiative, established under the umbrella of the IEEE Industry Connections Security Group, provides a framework for the development of new industry standards that enable the pooling of industry experience and resources, and will have visibility and review by the wider academic and industry groups".

(crve)