Information Security Forum Helps SMBs

PRESS RELEASE

20 April 2010: The Information Security Forum (ISF) is extending its world-renowned membership programme to help SMEs address an increasing number of IT security threats, including the fight against cybercrime, protecting customer data and the growth of social networking.

This new ISF Membership, for companies with turnover of less than US$150m, recognizes that SMEs face many of the same challenges and compliance requirements as large enterprises, but without the same in-house resources, skills or budgets. By joining the ISF, SMEs can reduce information risk by gaining access to world leading research, tools and methodologies; and by sharing knowledge and experience with security professionals from some 300 of the world's largest corporations and public sector organizations.

"It is difficult for even the largest organizations to build the level of understanding and skills needed to keep abreast of information security issues, understand emerging risks and develop best practice solutions," says Steve Durbin, VP sales and marketing at the ISF. "That's why many of the world's major corporations, public sector bodies and government departments are ISF members and now we are making it possible for SMEs to harness the knowledge, resources and tools to reduce their information risks."

In a recent ISF Threat Horizon report, cybercrime was at the top of the list, along with weaknesses in IT infrastructures, tougher statutory requirements, pressures on outsourcing and the erosion of the network boundary. Other threats highlighted include mobile malware, social networking and changing cultures with a blurring of the boundaries between work and personal life.

As an ISF SME Member, any employee involved in IT security, risk management and audit have unlimited access to the ISF Member website with over 400 authoritative reports, powerful web-based tools such as the ISF Security Healthcheck, as well as online forums and discussion groups. SME Members can pay additional incremental fees to access other tools including the ISF Information Security Benchmark and attend ISF workshops and Chapter meetings and the ISF Annual World Congress. This year's Congress is in Monaco and is expected to attract some 500 senior information security professionals in a totally confidential, peer-to-peer environment.

About the ISF

The ISF is an independent, not-for-profit, international association of some 300 leading companies and public sector organizations worldwide, dedicated to reducing risk and resolving information security challenges. By harnessing its world-renowned expertise and the collective knowledge of its Members, the ISF delivers practical solutions including authoritative research reports, risk methodologies and benchmarking tools, to overcome wide-ranging security challenges impacting business information today. If you would like to find out more about the ISF please visit: www.securityforum.org or contact [email protected]

For press information, contact:

Peter Rennison, PRPR, Tel: + 44 1442 245030, email: [email protected]