Tech CEOs call for better government security practices

The Chief Executive Officers of 11 top software companies called for better government security practices and stronger enforcement of laws against hackers and copyright infringers on Wednesday. Speaking in a panel discussion and in a press conference at the Business Software Alliance conference, they also expressed their willingness to work more closely with the government to prepare against future cyber attacks, an offer that they said Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge would likely accept. "We realized we could have a role in a solution and response [to cybercrime and terrorism] and we offered that assistance to government," said Gregory Bentley, CEO of Bentley Systems. "Ridge said that was one of the first things he considered in his first day on the job." On Tuesday, the executives presented a united front on a range of policy questions including better government, cyber security, copyright protection, trade-negotiating authority and tax depreciation rules, in a meeting with Vice President Richard Cheney, Ridge, and the heads of the Commerce, Treasury and Justice departments. Industry's efforts to work with the government on combating cyber crime and terrorism could be modeled after the collaboration employed in the effort to stamp of the Y2K computer bug, said Symantec CEO John Thompson at the Wednesday panel. "There is a real sense that there is a an issue to be dealt with." Referring to the effort to grade government agencies on computer security by Rep. Steve Horn, R-Calif., Entrust CEO Bill Conner said, "Government is disappointed and frustrated at the grades they have gotten" and is determined to draw on the technology community's expertise.