May 15, 2008 830-1130am; breakfast provided
Caledonian Hilton Edinburg, Room TBA
Microsoft is pleased to announce a focused workshop immediately following the IEIA Forum meetings in Edinburg to discuss and explore the intersection of information security, infrastructure protection, and regulatory compliance within the electric power sector, which plays a leading role in addressing the broad range of critical infrastructure technology and operating challenges. During this information-gathering session, Microsoft seeks to learn from experts with experience in meeting these challenges, and a vision for the future of the sector, to gain a better understanding of these strategic, operational and technological issues, to assist it in identifying how better to support this and other critical infrastructure sectors.
Microsoft is committed to providing a trustworthy, reliable, productive computing environment for the information technology that supports and enables critical infrastructures. In addition, Microsoft believes the current pace of technological change, in an environment of increasing infrastructure needs and regulatory requirements, provides additional challenges to the vendors that support critical infrastructure providers. This means security, resilience and efficiency must be extended far beyond the “desktop” or “back office” software environments.
To better understand the challenges and needs of critical infrastructure providers, Microsoft is conducting a study called “Critical Convergence.” The goals of the study include understanding the utility industry’s present and future security, resiliency and compliance needs and the challenges they pose. This study may lead to changes in customer interaction, product guidance, feature sets or new products.
The information gathered by Meridian and Microsoft during this workshop will not be attributed or attributable to any individual or institution. Microsoft has retained Meridian Institute to assist with this study. Meridian is a non-profit organization with experience in issues related to information technology, infrastructure protection, cyber-security, and the energy sector. It has long worked with various stakeholders in the energy and other infrastructures. Meridian will moderate the workshop discussions to ensure they remain focused and relevant.
Preliminary Questions to Open the Discussion: