Nations around the world that rely on information and communications technology are increasingly confronted with complex security challenges. Government must balance dual, and often interrelated, roles to effectively manage emerging cyber risks.

Governments are responsible for protecting public safety, as well as economic and national security. Governments are also large and widely distributed enterprises that need to protect their own operations and their critical infrastructures. With the rapid advances in technology, these critical infrastructures have become increasingly connected to the Internet – and they have become increasingly interconnected with each other.

Microsoft's Critical Infrastructure Partner Program (CIPP) fosters partnerships between national governments and Microsoft based on mutual trust, common goals, and collaboration.

For government participants, membership in CIPP can provide valuable insights on security policy, including strategies, approaches, and information to enhance the security of critical infrastructures. For Microsoft, the program offers an invaluable opportunity to engage directly with government representatives to better understand and address their needs. In order to develop and improve the offerings of the program, Microsoft asks agencies to specify their interests.

What the Critical Infrastructure Partner Program offers

The program consists of two primary offerings:

• Documentation on cyber security challenges
• Customizable workshops to increase awareness and build capacity.

Documentation

Includes a core set of materials on critical infrastructure and information assurance topics, such as policy formulation, risk management, operational response, and information sharing. The documentation is appropriate for senior level decision makers and action officers with different levels of experience.

• Critical Infrastructure Protection Principles
• Critical Infrastructure Protection Concepts and Continuum
• Microsoft's Critical Infrastructure Resiliency Exercise Guide
• Microsoft's Agile Framework for Infrastructure Risk Management

Customizable workshops

Topics include:

• Policy and strategy
• Risk management
• Incident response

Workshops are offered in the following formats:

• One-day introductory
• Multi-day focused training
• Interactive learning sessions

Membership in the Critical Infrastructure Partnership Program

The Microsoft CIPP is currently open to individual departments, agencies, and ministries in national governments that are currently members of the Government Security Program. Learn more.

Please note that the CIPP is not targeted at operational elements of governments such as national Computer Emergency Response Team (CERTs). It is intended for elements that are responsible for strategy, policy, and approaches to managing the security of critical infrastructure.

For information, please contact cipp@microsoft.com.