November 2020 Monthly Member Bulletin
Executive Director Message
Annual Member Survey Highlights Benefits from Collaboration and Market Intelligence
The 2020 Annual Member Survey was completed last month. The results of the survey are useful indicators of what our member organizations value in being active participants in the Alliance’s mission to provide a neutral forum that brings together leading providers and adopters of end-to-end security solutions designed to protect privacy and digital assets in a variety of vertical markets. The Alliance strives to raise awareness and advocate for the need for security to be built into every device, product and service throughout their lifecycle within payments, identity and access markets.
The two areas that received the highest ratings for member benefits from our members in this year’s survey was collaboration to solve industry issues by participating in industry councils and gaining up to date market intelligence about the changing dynamics of the payments and digital security marketplace. I think the fact that our members chose these specific benefits as the most valued highlights the give-and-take nature of our member experience. The very nature of engaging in discussions about important business and technology trends of the day results in a benefit in return of receiving valuable insight from other thought leaders that helps individuals see around the corners of the future for themselves and their organizations. Networking opportunities and gaining insights in order to build business strategies also scored near the top of the responses.
Some of the quantitative data metrics that we track showed continued improvement in overall satisfaction with the Alliance. 94.7% of members are clearly satisfied with the direction and support that the Alliance is providing the industry, as measured by a rating of 80 or higher. The specific activities that scored the highest in overall satisfaction (out of a possible 5.0 rating) were Alliance conferences and events (4.45); industry councils (4.28); published white papers and web resources (4.22); and communications such as member bulletins and press releases (4.11). Professional development training and certifications (3.82) scored slightly lower but that is something that does not appeal to the most experienced members in the Alliance. All of these measures showed an increase in satisfaction over 2019 results.
Despite the impact that the COVID-19 virus has had on budgets and the value of attending in-person events, 79% of members indicated that they planned to renew their memberships in 2020 – 2021, which is actually a higher percentage than in 2019. This is another indication that the fundamental benefits derived from active participation in the Secure Technology Alliance remain strong and have actually risen during this pandemic. Industry collaboration even in a virtual setting is better than isolation. The need for market intelligence to keep up with industry trends and stay ahead in a tightening economy is better than operating in the dark.
I want to express my appreciation to all of our members who contributed to the 2020 annual survey. We will announce the winner of the drawing to receive the Portal from Facebook or Amazon $150 gift card in next month’s bulletin.
Sincerely,
Randy Vanderhoof
Executive Director, Secure Technology Alliance
Advanced Crypto Symposium: Cybersecurity in the Age of Quantum Computing
As quantum computing evolves at an increased pace, researchers in the corporate, public and academic sectors are building the foundation for essential cybersecurity practices. The Secure Technology Alliance is holding a virtual education session, sponsored by Utimaco, that will explore this emerging risk and outline best practices for a quantum-resistant IT infrastructure. Leading experts on post-quantum cryptography will share their expertise and provide concrete recommendations on how to best assess your risk and prepare ahead of the post quantum era.
The education session, “Applied Crypto Symposium – Cybersecurity in the Age of Quantum Computing,” will be held December 9, 2020 from 12pm ET/9am PT to 2:15pm ET/11:15am PT. Registration is available at https://www.securetechalliance.org/applied-crypto-symposium/.
Speakers are: Dieter Bong, Utimaco; Lily Chen, NIST; Brian LaMacchia, Microsoft Research; Michele Mosca, University of Waterloo; and Randy Vanderhoof, Secure Technology Alliance.
Maintaining the integrity of critical infrastructures is a top priority, and this means adapting to new threats, smart hackers and even smarter technology. The future iterations of quantum computers will possess the processing power to crack the asymmetric algorithms that serve as the foundation of cryptography. Understanding how to prepare is top-of-mind for many cybersecurity experts, and this education session will provide necessary insight into implementing quantum-resistant IT infrastructures with an emphasis on federal and defense systems.
This session is for cybersecurity professionals interested in encryption, cryptography, data protection, key distribution and management, and responsibilities related to the protection of critical infrastructure in federal government and public sector, aerospace, defense, financial services, payments, IoT networks, automotive and telecommunications.
Experts will discuss:
- The threat posed by quantum computers to the digital economy, including the timeline and key milestones
- Advancements in corporate and academic research to counter the threat of quantum computing
- Best practices to protect critical infrastructure ahead of the post-quantum era
Follow the Alliance on Social Media
The Secure Technology Alliance has enhanced its presence on social media with robust platforms on Twitter and LinkedIn. Here are some ways you can interact with the organization: