SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 14 /PRNewswire/ -- RSA(R) CONFERENCE -- The 14th annual RSA(R) Conference 2005, the world's leading information security event, opened today at San Francisco's Moscone Center to an expected record attendance of over 11,000. Attendees include security practitioners, academics, developers, IT professionals, industry leaders, and policy makers discussing the latest developments in technology, mathematics, public policy, and best practices in information security. The Conference keynotes will commence with featured speakers Bill Gates, chairman and chief software architect of Microsoft; followed by John Chambers, president and chief executive officer of Cisco Systems, Inc.; and John Thompson, chairman and chief executive officer of Symantec Corporation. This year's event features over 275 vendors demonstrating the latest technologies in more than 162,000 square feet of exhibit space. Monday's agenda kicks-off with the Second Annual Executive Security Action Forum, followed by four days of over 200 conference sessions including enterprise and common criteria tutorials and the Town Hall Meetings.

"Over the past year information security has been elevated on the priority list of professionals, government officials and corporations alike, as a result of advanced threats, issues of liability and new regulations that require compliance," said Sandra Toms LaPedis, area vice president and general manager of the RSA Conferences. "The solid increase in our registration numbers compared to the last few years continues to show that RSA Conference is a valuable forum for balanced discussions and priceless networking opportunities for all attendees across the board. This year's event offers one of the most prestigious line-ups in Conference history as well as new events including Town Hall meetings that will cover critical trends and world issues on the minds of our attendees."

Information security has grown to become a critical issue for both enterprises and individuals. Conference attendees gain vital information with their access to more than 200 educational presentations and class sessions throughout the week. The conference will conclude Friday, February 18th with a presentation by Frank Abagnale, industry consultant and best-selling author of "Catch Me If You Can."

Other highlights include: Executive Security Action Forum

The Executive Security Action Forum will be held on Monday, February 14, prior to the start of RSA(R) Conference 2005. The Forum is a continuous, independent commission that includes key business and government security policy and technology implementers - as well as security industry executives. Members of the Forum include CIOs, CSOs and CISOs from Fortune 500 companies such as Bank of America, eBay, Ford, Microsoft, Motorola, Pepsico, Safeway, Wachovia and Washington Mutual. During the forum, executives discussed ideas to improve information security in the private and public sectors. Other topics included the best practices and issues with funding of information security, enforcing security with outsourcers, balancing security and privacy, product liability, legislation and public policy and how to connect business, government and technology.

Town Hall Meetings

The Cyber Security Industry Alliance (CSIA) will host a Town Hall Meeting to discuss homeland security, critical infrastructure protection, and cyber security in the post-9/11 era, and what steps are being taken to enhance security measures. Featured speakers include: 9/11 Commissioner Jamie Gorelick and Dick Clarke, former US cyber security czar. This session will take place on Wednesday, February 16, 12:45 p.m. - 1:45 p.m., Gateway 104 Attendees interested in attending must RSVP for this session to csiatownhall@csialliance.org.

Business Software Alliance (BSA) will sponsor the second Town Hall Meeting scheduled for Thursday, February 17, noon - 1:30 p.m., Gateway 104.BSA President and CEO, Robert Holleyman will host this session. The U.S. Secret Service Director, Ralph Basham, will open the discussion on the emergence of modern day "rum runners." The session will be moderated by Jon Swartz, USA TODAY technology reporter, who will focus on the threat of organized crime on the Internet along with a prestigious panel of experts on the forefront of this emerging criminal phenomenon. Attendees interested in attending must RSVP for this session at townhallrsvp@bsa.org.

RSA Conference First Time Attendee Briefing

RSA Conference first time attendees are invited to the Conference First Time Attendee Briefing to hear from past attendees on planning agendas and sessions to attend and to gain general information. This session takes place in Esplanade 302 on Monday from 6-7 p.m.

Cryptographers' Panel

The Cryptographers' Panel is one of the most widely attended and eagerly awaited sessions during the RSA Conference. Burt Kaliski, vice president of research at RSA Security and chief scientist of RSA Laboratories, will moderate this year's cryptographers' panel, which will look at past panel predictions and how they turned out, as well as looking ahead at the future of cryptography and information security. Other participants providing insights into future information security developments include: Dr. Whitfield Diffie, Sun Microsystems; Paul Kocher, Cryptography Research; Professor Ronald Rivest, MIT Laboratory for Computer Science; and Professor Adi Shamir, Weizmann Institute. This panel is scheduled for Tuesday, February 15 at 11:10 a.m.

Sponsors, Registration and Attendance

Platinum Sponsors exhibiting at the conference include: Cisco Systems, Computer Associates, Microsoft, Qualys, RSA Security, Sun Microsystems, Symantec, Tipping Point and VeriSign.

Full Conference fees include access to all four days of general sessions and class tracks, exhibits, evening receptions and giveaways. Qualified members of the media receive complimentary admission. A list of confirmed exhibitors is available at http://www.rsaconference.com/. For more information about RSA Conference 2005 or to register, visit the web site at http://www.rsaconference.com/ or call 1-866-518-2076.

About the RSA Conference

Now in its 14th year, the RSA Conference brings together decision-makers and influencers from all major markets, including consumer, education, financial, government, computer networking, telecommunications, Wall Street and the media for one of the industry's premier e-security and cryptography events. Later in the year, RSA Conference 2005 continues in Japan and in Europe. RSA Conference will also be holding one-day regional events throughout the year including: September 13, 2005 in Chicago and September 15, 2005 in New York. For more information, visit http://www.rsaconference.com/.

RSA is a registered trademark or trademark of RSA Security Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. All other products and services mentioned are trademarks of their respective companies.

Media Contact: Sponsor & Exhibit Contact: Tamara Burnett Don Rosette McGrath Power Nth Degree 408-375-7190 617-848-8766 tamarac@mcgrathpower.comdrosette@nthdegree.com

CONTACT: Media Contact: Tamara Burnett of McGrath Power, +1-408-375-7190
or tamarac@mcgrathpower.com; or Sponsor & Exhibit Contact: Don Rosette of Nth
Degree, +1-617-848-8766 or drosette@nthdegree.com

Web site: http://www.rsasecurity.com/