INFORMATION SOCIETY : COMMISSION SEEKS PUBLIC INPUT ON NETWORK SECURITY.

The European Commission launched on 18 January a public consultation on ten recommendations aiming to protect electronic information networks from attacks or failure. A study carried out by the Franco-American components manufacturer, Alcatel-Lucent(1), recommends greater protection of electronic networks, on which society is increasingly dependent. Their reliability and robustness alike need to be strengthened.

The ten recommendations include emergency preparedness and the implementation of network restoration procedures. The report also invites operators and service providers to conclude mutual aid agreements. The interdependencies' between communications and other critical services should be addressed and information-sharing mechanisms including cross-sector communications need to be enhanced. The study also recommends the implementation of innovative trusted concepts and the use of industry consensus best...