The Information Security Awareness Forum (ISAF) the cross-industry initiative founded by the ISSA-UK to raise awareness of information security, has formally opened its website.
Located at www.theisaf.org, the site seeks to act as a resource that will over time develop in to a focal point for IT security education and other relevant information from the forum. Launched in February, the ISAF is backed by a number of organisations, including the ISSA, ISACA, GetSafeOnline, (ISC)”, ASIS International, the British Computer Society, Infosecurity Europe and the Institute of Information Security Professionals. ISAF’s chairperson, Dr David King, said that it will help members, as well as the industry generally, pool their expertise and help co-ordinate the Forum’s development.
"The Information Security Awareness Forum has been formed to coordinate and build on existing work and initiatives, to improve their overall effectiveness, and ultimately to increase the level of security awareness that will help us all” he said.
Martin Smith MBE, BSc, FSyI, the chairman and founder of the Security Awareness Special Interest Group, supported the opening of the new site, saying that his group strongly recommends the use of the new pages as a first port of call. "It serves equally well those individuals seeking security awareness knowledge for themselves and their families, and managers of businesses of all sizes and all sectors looking for advice and guidance about how to protect their data from accidental or deliberate disclosure," he said. Several other organisations have voiced their support for the opening of the new site, including the BCS, the Jericho Forum and the NCC:
“The National Computing Centre’s members rely on its ability to quickly direct them to trusted best practice. www.theisaf.org provides a highly relevant link in the information chain.”
Danny Dresner, NCC
“Since its inception in 2005, GetSafeOnline.org has been working in partnership with the UK Government, law enforcement and the private sector to raise awareness of internet security issues amongst consumers and micro-businesses. We have always believed that a collaborative approach is the only way to effectively tackle online safety issues – an area that is not only complex, but also relevant to individuals and organizations in different ways. We applaud the initiative to extend this approach through the new Information Security Awareness Forum website."
Tony Neate, Managing Director, Get Safe Online, www.getsafeonline.org
“The new www.theisaf.org website is a great initiative to help improve awareness of infosecurity issues and by coordinating the activities and resources of all the member organisations enables individuals and organisations to quickly find succinct advice to help them. The Information Security Awareness Forum also has a blog on Infosecurity Adviser www.infosecurityadviser.com which is another example of how the forum’s members are fulfilling their common aim of improving infosecurity awareness across the entire industry.”
Claire Sellick, Event Director, Infosecurity Europe 2008
“ISSA-UK is delighted with the progress that ISAF has made since its formation as an ISSA-UK Advisory Board initiative in September 07. ISSA-UK congratulates ISAF on the launch of its new website which we strongly believe will support the continued growth and development of Information Security awareness across organisations. It will also provide individuals with a central repository of knowledge and a first point of contact for those seeking help and guidance. This new portal will enable those seeking help to locate good, impartial advice from the leading security organisations, working together in the forum, to communicate awareness to a wider audience.“
Geoff Harris, President of ISSA-UK
“The National e-Crime Prevention Centre welcomes all efforts to protect the UK from electronic crime and the ISAF Web site is an additional and useful site for advice and guidance. Encouraging people and businesses to take action on the available advice is key to reducing the harm to individuals and the economy.”
Ken Rabey, Project Director, National e-Crime Prevention Centre
“Given ISACA’s long-held belief in the importance of educating both institutions and individuals on information security we are confident that the resources on the Information Security Awareness Forum website will help to improve awareness. Having a single website to locate the huge amount of valuable information available from all the member associations is an extremely useful feature.”
Lynn Lawton, CISA, FCA, FIIA, PIIA, International President of ISACA
"ASIS UK Chapter 208 is delighted to support the launch of the ISAF’s Web site and encourages all those who want to work together with other security organisations to visit and contribute to the various activities located on the Web pages."
James Willison, Convergence Lead, ASIS UK, Chapter 208
"The IET is pleased to be a member of the Information Security Awareness Forum and believes that the new ISAF Web site will provide a valuable mine of information for both individuals and organisations. We support the development of a co-ordinated approach to the provision of advice and guidance on all matters to do with information security"
Margaret Smith, Member of the IT Sector Panel, The IET
“This coming together of ICT professional bodies, trade associations and interest groups to work together to promote awareness is most welcome and deserves every support from suppliers, users and the many government departments and agencies with responsibilities for the safety and security of those using their systems.”
Philip Virgo, Secretary General, EURIM
“EEMA welcomes the ISAF website initiative which will increase awareness of the online security issues. EEMA is also honoured to be a member and bring a European perspective to the ISAF; time and recourses are a scarce commodity in this day and age and co-ordination in the security space is essential if we are to face up to the issues and challenges of online crime.”
Roger Dean, Executive Director, EEMA
"The BCS is pleased to be a member of the Information Security Awareness Forum and hopes that the endeavours through the new ISAF Web site will signpost both individuals and organisations to resources that they should be aware of both personally and professionally. This is certainly a resource that our 62,000+ members should find useful ongoing.”
Andrea Simmons, CISSP, CISM, MBCS CITP, M.Inst.ISP, BCS Consultant Security Forum Manager
"The CMA, as an early supporter of the Information Security Awareness Forum, fully supports ISAF’s pragmatic initiatives to promote industry wide collaboration and particularly welcomes the new ISAF web site (www.theisaf.org). This web site should become the destination (or portal) of choice for people, be they the man or woman in the street or a company Manager, seeking advice and guidance on how to secure information in this electronic and ever more inter-connected world."
Peter Wenham CISSP MICAF CLAS, Director, CMA
"The Jericho Forum welcomes the Information Security Awareness Forum’s practical initiatives to promote collaboration between groups working in this crucial area. Collaboration is an essential part of our vision to allow seamless and secure communications between businesses, suppliers and customers across an open, Internet-driven, networked world."
— Andrew Yeomans, member of Jericho Forum board of management.
