A comprehensive European event on security held on a yearly basis was much needed in Europe. This is a direct result of the rapid growth of the Internet and electronic commerce in Europe. The latter is good news for Europe considering the growing importance of the networked economy in terms of growth and employment. Second, that European Union policies have been successful. Yet it is clear that the full liberalisation of telecommunications in the Union has created the right conditions for the expansion of the Internet and electronic commerce.
Cryptographic technologies are at the heart of information security.
A few years ago, cryptography was still an arcane topic restricted to a closed circle of people in the known. It is only recently, with the growth of the Internet, that cryptography and on-line security has made it to the headlines. Simply because cryptography is the preferred, if not only, means to ensure authenticity and confidentiality in electronic communications. Without it, there will be no safe electronic communications. And all the impressive forecasts we have seen regarding the growth of electronic commerce will remain pie in the sky.