TheEastWest Institute[i]is leading aGlobal Cooperation in Cyberspace Initiative[ii]to help make cyberspace more secure and predictable. EWI has eight supporters and four partners in this initiative, and welcomes more.[iii] As part of this initiative, EWI established seven Breakthrough Groups, each devoted to a specific focus area.[iv]

One Breakthrough Group, titled “Increasing the Global Availability and Use of Secure ICT Products and Services”[v] is working to enhance cybersecurity for governments and enterprises globally by enabling the availability and use of secure ICT products and services. For providers in the ICT supply chain, the group is promoting the use of recognized and proven international standards and best practices that improve product and service integrity. For buyers of ICT, the group will work to foster the use of procurement practices that are founded on recognized and proven standards and best practices for secure ICT.

The Breakthrough Group continues to conduct a request for input asking ICT professionals to evaluate a set of principles and answera short set of questions to help us understand the marketplace dynamics for secure ICT. This includes understanding what buyers need or want from suppliers (demand side), and what ICT providers are offering (supply side). Preliminary results have been analyzed and the group continues to move forward with its research. You may view and contribute to the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LLN975D.

The EastWest Institute works to reduce international conflict, addressing seemingly intractable problems that may threaten world security and stability. EastWest forges new connections and builds trust among global leaders and influencers, helps create practical new ideas, and takes action through its network of global decision-makers. Independent and nonprofit since its founding in 1980, EWI has offices in New York, Brussels, Moscow and Washington. Learn more at www.eastwest.ngo.

[i] http://www.eastwest.ngo

[ii] http://www.eastwest.ngo/cyber

[iii] SUPPORTERS: Microsoft, Huawei Technologies, Palo Alto Networks, NXP Semiconductors, Qihoo 360, Unisys, CenturyLink, and The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation; PARTNERS: IEEE Communications Society, Munich Security Conference, The Open Group, and UNSW Australia

[iv] https://cybersummit.info/2015/about-summit#block-block-26

[v] http://cybersummit.info/2015/breakthroughs/increasing-global-availability-and-use-secure-ict-products-and-services