You will also see on our website, under Defense Programs, that we provide a wide range of international market and competitiveness information of value to both defense and commercial high technology companies. We provide information that firms can use to develop new product lines and market existing products both here and abroad. We also continue to work with the Newly Independent States to help them develop effective export control programs. Since 1993, we have delivered 140 bilateral and multilateral workshops in 25 countries. These investigations also included the first civil charges and penalties for alleged unlicensed exports of controlled biotoxins.
Enforcement is a critical partner for exporters.
I urge you to work with our enforcement people when you uncover a suspect transaction. I'm proud to say we provide. One new element of BXA's activities relates to critical infrastructure protection. One need only look to the recent spread of the Love Bug computer virus which corrupted systems worldwide or the work of hackers breaking into and disrupting service on a number of popular websites to see that this threat is indeed very real. BXA's Critical Infrastructure Assurance Office has been coordinating efforts within both the federal government and private sector to protect critical infrastructures.