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CSC Forms Insurance Cybersecurity Advisory Council
News Release -- December 13, 2011
Industry Leadership Group to Identify Needs, Shape Strategies and Share Information for Protecting Against Cyber Risks
FALLS CHURCH, Va., Dec. 13 – CSC (NYSE: CSC) today announced the establishment of the Insurance Cybersecurity Advisory Council for life insurance and annuity providers and property/casualty insurers to facilitate the development of best practices and technology strategies that effectively mitigate the risk of cyber attacks on the insurance industry. The Council, to comprise business and IT executives representing a cross-section of insurance companies, will also collaborate with CSC to promote awareness and information sharing throughout the industry. The Council’s first meeting is slated for January 2012 in Washington, D.C.
Insurers, agents, brokers and consumers are increasingly embracing mobile devices and applications, social networking and cloud computing, all of which provide opportunities for achieving higher levels of business performance through enhanced productivity, collaboration and agility. At the same time, these new technologies can leave insurers vulnerable to cybersecurity threats — both from inside and outside of the organization. If not addressed, these threats can have a devastating impact on a carrier’s reputation and ability to operate and generate revenue.
“While insurance companies are benefiting from the digitization of their businesses, they also face new risks such as a potential tarnished reputation, fraud, intellectual property theft, business disruption, increased regulatory scrutiny or persistent threats such as cyberespionage,” said Kimberly Harris-Ferrante, vice president and distinguished analyst at Gartner. “Insurers must assess the maturity of security and enterprise risk management programs and their ability to effectively defend against today’s and tomorrow’s cyber-risks.”
“By forming the insurance industry’s first Cybersecurity Advisory Council, we will be the catalyst for best-practice sharing and development of technology solutions to address this growing concern,” said Ray August, president of CSC’s Financial Services Group. “Shareholder and consumer confidence, along with a requirement to pass increasingly complex audit procedures, rely on a company’s ability to safeguard intellectual property and customer data. The Council’s industry leaders will work together to identify the evolving cyber protection needs for insurance, define the most effective ways to combat cyber threats and educate the industry about the need for prevention.”
CSC’s cybersecurity capabilities include a worldwide infrastructure of Security Operations Centers; Common Criteria Test Laboratories in the United States, Europe and the Far East; and a global cyber strike-force team to respond to cybersecurity incidents and provide cyber forensics training and analysis. Specific offerings cover vulnerability analysis and penetration testing, data loss prevention services and a full range of managed security services. CSC’s nearly 2,000 cyber professionals serve commercial clients and public sector enterprises globally, including civilian departments and agencies, and defense organizations. For more information about CSC’s cybersecurity capabilities for insurance, visit www.csc.com/cybersecurity_get_protected.
About CSC in Financial Services
More than 1,200 major banking, insurance, investment and wealth management, and securities firms rely on CSC's global financial services team to turn their ambitions into realities. With a track record for delivering software, consulting, and IT and business process outsourcing and services at scale, CSC brings a deep understanding of the financial services business and a collaborative culture to one of the industry's most engaged client communities. For more information, visit www.csc.com/financialservices.
About CSC
CSC is a global leader in providing technology-enabled business solutions and services. Headquartered in Falls Church, Va., CSC has approximately 97,000 employees and reported revenue of $16.2 billion for the 12 months ended September 30, 2011. For more information, visit the company's website at www.csc.com.
