Microsoft and REN-ISAC Sign Security Alliance

The reach of the Microsoft Security Cooperation Program is expanding, with the software maker aiming to deliver additional security to network information sharing. In this regard, the Redmond Company has teamed up with the Research and Education Networking Information Sharing and Analysis Center (REN-ISAC). Higher education institutions will be the focus of the new Microsoft and REN-ISAC security alliance.

"This partnership creates an open dialog with educational institutions to improve security through the SCP. Agreements such as this are essential to SCP's mission to help protect critical IT infrastructures and promote computer safety worldwide," said Alan Yates, worldwide managing director of education for Microsoft. "It is a very natural and helpful opportunity for Microsoft to work with REN-ISAC to allow its members to be more proactive and responsive to security dangers through cooperative projects and information sharing with Microsoft."

With the REN-ISAC alliance, Microsoft has tapped a resource including higher education entities. The Security Cooperation Program is an infrastructure that enables the Redmond Company to have access to information, and to decrease attack windows.

For Microsoft, REN-ISAC will act as a private and responsible source of information regarding vulnerabilities, exploits and attacks, and the company will ensure the enhancement of the current security of the educational community.

"The fundamental goal of the REN-ISAC is to increase and improve the information that universities and colleges can use to enhance the security of their networks and systems," said Mark Bruhn, executive director of REN-ISAC and associate vice president for telecommunications at Indiana University. "This unique trust relationship with Microsoft will provide such an information source, from which we can impart important security and product information to our membership, and through which Microsoft will get input from real-life product experiences from typically complex campus technology environments."