F:\USERS\LL\INFOSEC\FOREWORD.TXT
September 15, 1994


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* INFORMATION SECURITY AND PRIVACY IN NETWORK ENVIRONMENTS *
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*                       FOREWORD                          *
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Information networks are changing the way we do business,
educate our children, deliver government services, and
dispense health care. Information technologies are intruding
in our lives in both positive and negative ways. On the
positive side, they provide windows to rich information
resources throughout the world. They provide instantaneous
communication of information that can be shared with all who
are connected to the network. As businesses and government
become more dependent on networked computer information, the
more vulnerable we are to having private and confidential
information fall into the hands of the unintended or
unauthorized person. Thus appropriate institutional and
technological safeguards are required for a broad range of
personal, copyrighted, sensitive, or proprietary
information. Otherwise, concerns for the security and
privacy of networked information may limit the usefulness
and acceptance of the global information infrastructure.

This report was prepared in response to a request by the
Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs and the House
Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance. The report
focuses on policy issues in three areas: 1) national
cryptography policy, including federal information
processing standards and export controls; 2) guidance on
safeguarding unclassified information in federal agencies;
and 3) legal issues and information security, including
electronic commerce, privacy, and intellectual property.

OTA appreciates the participation of the many individuals
without whose help this report would not have been possible.
OTA received valuable assistance from members of the study's
advisory panel and participants at four workshops, as well
as a broad range of individuals from government, academia,
and industry. OTA also appreciates the cooperation of the
General Accounting Office and the Congressional Research
Service during the course of this assessment. The report
itself, however, is the sole responsibility of OTA.


Roger C. Herdman
DIRECTOR