Good morning ladies and gentlemen, I am very pleased to have this opportunity to address you this morning on the subject of IT and e-security. I know that the organisers have prepared a wide variety of subjects ranging from computer forensics, biometrics to a session on “my Dad’s computer and the future of internet security”.

In relation to the speakers I notice that you have a wide variety of experts ranging from Irish security consultants, representatives of academia as well as experts from both the European Union and the United States. I would like to welcome these experts to Ireland and I hope that their knowledge will help to educate you to address the challenges we are all facing in the area of information security.

The very nature of the Internet and the World Wide Web provides an opportunity for easy access and communication. However, experience has shown that, to be successful, such freedom requires responsibility. However, for a minority, it is an opportunity for mischief and criminal activities. Information security is now more than ever recognised as being the core of our day-to-day activities, be it in a private or business capacity. Business in the public and private sectors expect and need to be able to conduct their business in a safe and secure manner.

The development of e-business at all levels is dependant on secure transactions and as our economies migrate to a digital knowledge based economy the need for adequate, effective information security is paramount.

Some of the recent research carried by Amarach Consulting for my Department has shown that up to 375,000 home computers have been affected by viruses and worms and six in every ten work computers have been affected by viruses and worms.

Recognising the importance of the need to address the problems associated with network and information security, the Department has been working to increase the awareness and need for information security. Last November, the Department and a number of private sector companies joined forces to deliver one of the biggest public awareness campaigns in Europe. This campaign highlighted information security issues such as modem hijacking, ‘phishing’ and the need to use up to date anti virus protection as well as using the latest versions of their operating systems.

Over 800,000 information booklets were distributed and an extensive media campaign was organised to highlight the need and importance of network and information security. A website, www.makeitsecure.ie providing information on keeping your computer secure was created and to date there has been over one million hits on the web site. This campaign was aimed at educating the citizen as well as business as to the best practices to keep our information networks and computers safe from unwanted and sometimes harmful software.

I believe that information campaigns such as these are important in educating computer users as to the threats that exist from those who are minded to interfere with our legitimate use and access to the information superhighway.

At a European level, last March the European Parliament and Council approved a Regulation creating a new agency called the European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA). ENISA's mission is to assist the Community in ensuring particularly high levels of network and information security. The Agency will contribute to the development of a culture of network and information security for the benefit of the citizens, consumers, enterprises and public sector organisations of the European Union. This work should help to protect and foster e-business and the smooth functioning of the internal market.

ENISA has now appointed an executive Director and a Permanent Stakeholders Group made up of representatives of the ICT industry and academia has recently been appointed and this group will provide the detailed technical information required by ENISA to deliver on its work program. I am pleased to say that Irish industry and expertise are assisting ENISA in completing its work.

While it is still early days, I am confident that ENISA will have a key role in addressing many of the network and information security issues that you will be talking about at this conference and that will challenge us in the future.

Ladies and gentlemen, I am sure this conference will provide an excellent opportunity to enlighten you on the latest e-security issues and to debate and formulate the best strategies for your organisations.

I would like to take this opportunity to once more thank the organizers and sponsors of this conference for making the event a reality. With those remarks, ladies and gentlemen, it is now my pleasure to declare this conference officially open.
Thank you.

ENDS