The partnership will combine the practical expertise of the ICC's London-based Commercial Crime Services (CCS) with the research and analytical capacity of the world's most famous think tank. RAND's research agenda includes most major international security problems.

The agreement between the two organizations recognizes the critical need for a global information exchange to thwart hackers, industrial spies, and other criminals who may exploit the Internet to attack commercial and public-sector systems.

RAND President and Chief Executive Officer James A. Thomson said: "The business world today confronts threats that were once the exclusive concern of governments. We see this partnership with ICC as an opportunity to apply RAND's experience in criminal justice, international security and information science to an issue of growing concern to both the private and public sectors."

ICC Commercial Crime Services has saved companies and individual investors billions of dollars in potential frauds and theft through its ability to recognize early warning signs. This private-sector organization's skills have been honed over almost 20 years at the forefront of the fight against commercial crime.

RAND conducts research and analysis on a uniquely broad front including science and technology policy, health care, education, criminal and civil justice as well as security issues.

RAND has been in the forefront of recent efforts to analyze the threats to vital information systems posed by criminals, terrorists and other adversaries threatening fraud, sabotage, espionage or random disruption. Its researchers have studied the potential use of cyberspace for money laundering, for the corruption of financial systems, for the disruption of infrastructure, and for a variety of other crimes and attacks.

A dedicated cybercrime unit recently formed by CCS will now be augmented by RAND's additional resources. Together the two organizations will analyze the magnitude of the threat from cybercriminals as well as trends, tactics and countermeasures. In exchanging information, they will take care to protect the confidentiality of their sources.

Results of the joint work of RAND and CCS will be disseminated to their respective constituencies through confidential reports, published newsletters, and early warning bulletins.

The agreement was crafted by Brian Michael Jenkins, an international authority on crime who works with international organizations and multinational corporations as a top-level troubleshooter, strategist and crisis manager. Mr. Jenkins is senior advisor to the President of RAND and a special advisor to ICC, as well as a board member of CCS.

Outlining the new links between CCS and RAND, Mr. Jenkins said: "The principal obstacle to determining the right level and means of providing information security and protection against crime on the Internet is the lack of accurate information on risks. We wobble between woeful ignorance and alarming exaggeration.

"This agreement will help us to map what is so far uncharted territory--and then find the best means of crossing it unscathed."

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