Wakefield, Mass. – November 15, 2018 – At a meeting this month in Washington, D.C., the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announced that Steve Lipner, executive director of SAFECode, has been appointed chair of the Information Security and Privacy Advisory Board (ISPAB).

ISPAB was created by an act of the United States Congress in 1988 and is chartered to advise key U.S. government agencies on information security and privacy issues impacting federal government information systems. Specifically, it works to:

  • Identify emerging managerial, technical, administrative, and physical safeguard issues relative to information security and privacy;
  • Advise the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the Secretary of Commerce and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget on information security and privacy issues pertaining to federal government information systems, including thorough review of proposed standards and guidelines developed by NIST.
  • Annually report its findings to the Secretary of Commerce, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the Director of the National Security Agency and the appropriate committees of the Congress.

Lipner is serving his third term on the ISPAB, having been one of the original members in 1989-93 and having been reappointed to the Board in 2000-06. This will be his first time serving as Chair.

“I am honored to be appointed Chair of the Information Security Privacy Advisory Board, and look forward to helping the Board continue its work to advance the security and privacy of federal government information systems. The federal government’s use of effective security and privacy practices helps protect U.S. people and organizations and can also serve as a model for organizations and governments worldwide,” said Lipner.

Lipner joined SAFECode with more than four decades of experience in software security assurance. He led Microsoft’s Security Development Lifecycle team and was responsible for corporate supply chain security strategies and policies regarding government evaluation of Microsoft security products. A member of the National Academy of Engineering and a National Cyber Security Hall of Fame inductee, his contributions to software assurance have influenced the entire security sector. He is named as an inventor on 12 U.S. patents in the field of computer and network security. In addition, he co-authored the book, The Security Development Lifecycle.

About SAFECode

The Software Assurance Forum for Excellence in Code (SAFECode) is a non-profit organization exclusively dedicated to increasing trust in information and communications technology products and services through the advancement of effective software assurance methods. SAFECode is a global, industry-led effort to identify and promote best practices for developing and delivering more secure and reliable software, hardware and services. Its members include Adobe Systems Incorporated, CA Technologies, Dell EMC, Intel Corporation, Microsoft Corp., Siemens AG and Symantec Corp. For more information, please visit www.safecodedev.wpengine.com.

Media Contact:
Bob Olson
SAFEcode Public Relations
+1 781-876-8839
[email protected]

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