CompTIA President and CEO Comments Following Participation in the White House Summit on Cybersecurity and Consumer Protection

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Feb 17, 2015, 10:26 ET

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- CompTIA, the non-profit association for the information technology (IT) industry, today issued the following statement from president and CEO Todd Thibodeaux following his participation in the White House Summit on Cybersecurity and Consumer Protection.

"I am very appreciative of the White House for convening the summit with technology leaders from across the country to increase partnerships between the public and private sectors in an effort to strengthen the nation's cybersecurity framework and boost protections of consumer data. The summit provided companies, advocacy organizations and the administration an opportunity to share concerns and strategies for developing a more robust and effective system for sharing data and thwarting future threats.

"Clearly there is recognition of the importance of cybersecurity for organizations across all sectors of the economy. Organizations have invested heavily in technology solutions to counter the threats. But increased reliance on technology alone is not the cure-all.

"More than technology, security assurance depends on human actions and knowledge. Recently it was reported that a cybercrime group deployed malware via phishing scams to get inside of computers at more than 100 banks to steal hundreds of millions of dollars. This is just the latest example of why the best security technology in the world won't work without appropriate human intervention.

"There is a strong need for specialized security education, training and certification for IT personnel, but it cannot stop there. To be truly effective in preventing and combating security threats, organizations need to take the further step by spreading security awareness and knowledge from a select group of IT staff through the entire organization, from the clerk in the mail room to the CEO in the corner office.

"CompTIA is at the forefront of cybersecurity protections, with best practices and credentials for organizations; certifications for IT workers; and soon, cybersecurity awareness training for anyone who touches a PC, laptop, smartphone or tablet.

"We continue to work with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to pass legislation that will provide liability protection to the private sector which will further promote the sharing of data. It is also imperative that we pass federal legislation that streamlines the data breach notification process so that companies are not forced to navigate a multitude of laws across various jurisdictions."

About CompTIA

CompTIA is the voice of the world's IT industry. Its members are the companies at the forefront of innovation; and the professionals responsible for maximizing the benefits organizations receive from their investments in technology. CompTIA is dedicated to advancing industry growth through educational programs, market research, networking events, professional certifications and public policy advocacy. Visit CompTIA online, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

SOURCE CompTIA