ISAlliance Board member Matt Broda addressed participants at the
Secure Manufacturing in the Age of Globalization workshop at CMU.

The event was the first of three workshops representing the first phase of a groundbreaking three phase initiative seeking to secure the IT supply chain. Participating companies include IBM, Lenovo, AT&T, Lockheed Martin, Intel, Nortel Networks, Boeing, Cisco Systems, Infineon, Ericsson, Netapp, VMWare and more. 

Project Executive Summary

The Internet Security Alliance (ISA), in conjunction with Carnegie Mellon University is organizing a study focused on the security issues raised by the globalized supply chain inherent in the development and manufacture of IT equipment.

The entire IT manufacturing supply chain is now intrinsically globalized and sole US sourcing is an ineffective, and potentially counterproductive, mechanism to manage the security risks involved in IT procurement. Since virtually all IT equipment has some element of “foreign sourcing” in the research, development, manufacture or assembly process, the issues Lenovo faced will soon be an issue for everyone. Moreover, since 100% US sourcing is clearly impractical, the very real security issues need to be addressed in a practical and effective manner.

Given the technological, business and political issues involved tools and procedures must be developed to provide global manufacturers with cost effective solutions that can best address challenging government procurement concerns.

In the interest of identifying practical solutions to these secure manufacturing concerns, ISA has designed a three stage study to be completed over the next 9 months.

Stage 1. ISA has contracted with Carnegie Mellon University to conduct an independent study of best practices and procedures currently available and in use to address this issue.  CMU will be given a free hand to produce the best possible field study within the next 6 months. Their report will define the problem, analyze its significance and recommend how the issues may best be addressed by both public and private sectors.

Click Here for Access To WORKSHOP PRESENTATIONS 

Executive Summary continues - 

Stage 2. A group of senior former government experts has been recruited to review the CMU Report and provide their independent input.  The Experts panel consists of former DOD, CIA, NSA, 3-4 Star Generals and other experts with a government background.

Stage 3 Armed with the CMU and the Experts Panel Reports the sponsoring companies will make a final review and determine the appropriate next steps.  In addition to the ISA Board Members, companies who have agreed to commit to the study already include Lockheed Martin, BEA, ATT, Lenovo, IBM and Intel.

CMU will independently decide which companies they wish to consult with in conducting stage one of the study. Stage 2 & 3 are only open to companies participating through ISA.  Sponsorship of the study requires a commitment of $25,000.

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