ALIG Aims To Help Reduce Info Security Breaches
8th February 2006 (Bernama)

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 8 (Bernama) -- The number of information security breaches incidents in Malaysia is expected to reduce significantly with the help of the newly established Affiliated Local Interest Group (ALIG) programme in the country.

National ICT Security and Emergency Response Centre's (NISER) manager, Philip Victor, said there was still a lack of awareness, education and training pertaining to information security issues in the country.

He said the ALIG programme has been designed to meet the peer networking and professional growth needs by offering a best platform for discussion, idea and expertise exchange among its members.

Apart from contributing the best input for the government and industry players to resolve their information security breaches incident effectively, the programme also would help to educate people on the awareness of information security issues.

"We also do not have a best specific professional association focussing as a platform (to collaborate together) on this field," he said.

Malaysia is reported to have recorded almost 1,000 information security breaches incidents last year.

"Now, with the establishment of ALIG programme in Malaysia, I feel that the incidents (information security breaches), somehow will be reduced year-by-year," he told reporters at the launch of ALIG programme, here today.

The ALIG programme, which is part of the International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium's (ISC)2 global affiliated programme is expected to help participating local interest groups grow and support their memberships by offering convenient education opportunities and greater access to other local professionals and peer networking opportunities.

ISC2, based in Palm Harbor, Florida, USA, with offices in Vienna, Virgina, London, Hong Kong and Tokyo, is the non-profit international leader in educating and certifying information security professionals worldwide.

For the local front, Malaysia-based information security interest group (INFOSEC.my), formely known as Malaysia Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP) Special Interest Group would assist the ALIG activities. Its founder and also the director of NISER, Lt Col (R) Husin Jazri believed the ALIG programme would help to promote the development of information security interest groups in Malaysia and benefit the local members in terms of peer experience exchange.