Meridian and its aims

2009-07-06

The Meridian process aims to provide Governments worldwide with a means by which they can discuss how to work together at the policy level on critical information infrastructure protection (CIIP). An annual conference and interim activities is held each year to help build trust and establish international relations within the membership to facilitate sharing of experiences and good practices on CIIP from around the world. Participation in the Meridian process is open to all countries and aimed at senior government policy-makers. The Meridian process is founded on the G8 principles that provide a basic framework for understanding and implementing CIIP measures. As new challenges of connectivity and dependencies arise beyond national borders, Meridian enables Governments to explore the benefits and opportunities of cooperation with the private sector, and exchange of information and good practices in CIIP between governments internationally. Tools to raise awareness and share information include the CIIP Directory to facilitate intergovernmental contacts and the Traffic Light Protocol to facilitate distribution of information.

How Meridian works – the process

The Meridian process began to be formalized after the first Meridian conference in 2005 launched by the UK’s NISCC (now CPNI) and was further strengthened after Meridian 2006 held in Budapest, and Meridian 2007 held in Stockholm. Meridian has a Programme Committee (PC) to assist the forthcoming host country in developing the annual conference. Membership of the Meridian PC is intended to be diverse to obtain a mix of experience, expertise and regional coverage of CIIP interest. The PC for the impending conference in USA 2009 consists of Germany (BMI), UK (CPNI), Singapore (IDA), Sweden (MSB), Taiwan (STAG), Switzerland (MELANI), Japan (NISC) and The Netherlands (NICC) led by USA (DHS).

A Presidency fosters and develops initiatives between Meridian conferences and provides guidelines for forthcoming events and publications. The Presidency, currently led by Singapore having hosted Meridian 2008, also comprises current and next conference hosts, USA and Taiwan. Sweden’s Presidency activities included setting up the permanent Meridian Website and establishing the Meridian Process Control Security Information Exchange (MPCSIE).

Singapore’s Meridian Process initiatives currently under way include a Repository of International CIIP Collaborations, a CIIP Self-Assessment Scorecard, and the Meridian Chronicle which will be a guide to managing the Process.

An Editorial Committee led by Hungary as one of their contributions to the Meridian Process is responsible for producing the quarterly CIIP Matters, and overseeing other publication and website output. Its current membership includes Hungary, Singapore, Switzerland and the UK.

 

 

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