Art Coviello, CEO
RSA Security
October 14, 2004
Overview | Video | Biography | Media Advisory
Art Coviello, CEO, RSA Security, was the featured guest speaker at the 2004 Internet Caucus Advisory Committee Speakers Series event on Thursday, October 14, 2004.
Mr. Coviello spoke to the Congressional Internet Caucus about his perspectives on consumer identity protection issues and the steps that are necessary to enable the next round of innovation on the Internet. Internet security efforts will only engender a safe online marketplace in so far as they inspire confidence among consumers. "Internet security is like the brakes on a car," he said, slowing you down in one sense, but allowing you to "go as fast as you want, because you know the brakes will stop you."
"The internet is the most overhyped and yet underutilized technology out there," Mr. Coviello said. He discussed broadband as an avenue to create standards of web service development, emphasizing that it is currently not being used to its full potential. He acknowledged the privacy concerns surrounding the emerging Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, but focused on its possibilities for increasing efficiency. "Don't just be afraid of privacy concerns with RFID," he said. "Privacy should be built in and not built on."
He stressed the need for government, business, and individual participation in Internet security, in order to create awareness of constantly emerging threats. Public-private partnerships, like those that have worked in other sectors, will ultimately be the most effective, he said. In particular, Mr. Coviello highlighted education as one of the most effective means of combating cyber threats to privacy and security.
Past speakers of the Internet Caucus Advisory Committee Speaker Series include: Internet founding fathers such as Vint Cerf, Tim Berners-Lee and Marty Cooper as well as industry leaders like Bill Gates, Michael Eisner and Meg Whitman.
This event is hosted in conjunction with the Internet Caucus and its Co-Chairs, Senators Burns (R-MT) and Leahy (D-VT) and Congressmen Goodlatte (R-VA) and Boucher (D-VA).