Twelve companies whose principal business is cybersecurity have formed an industry association to advance their interests as the government pursues improvements to cybersecurity in government and private-sector computer systems. Company executives announced the creation of the Cyber Security Industry Alliance today in San Francisco.

“This is the security industry’s time. We are a multibillion dollar industry, we are critically important, and it’s time we had our own industry association,” said Art Coviello, president and chief executive officer of RSA Security Inc. “The country is faced with the serious threat of terrorism and the possibility of cyberterrorism. If we can speak with one voice, we can play an important role in protecting the nation’s critical infrastructure.”

The Wakefield, Mass.-based alliance, whose members are security software, hardware and service providers, is a nonprofit, corporate-membership organization. Members said the group’s mission is to improve cybersecurity through public policy initiatives, public-sector partnerships, corporate outreach, academic programs, adoption of industry technology standards and public education.

The group launched at a cybersecurity conference hosted by RSA Security. Its founding members are:

Former Bush administration official Paul Kurtz will serve as executive director of the group. Most recently, Kurtz served as special assistant to the president and senior director for critical infrastructure protection on the White House Homeland Security Council. He was responsible for developing strategy policy for protecting the nation’s critical infrastructure. Previously, he served on the National Security Council as senior director for national security in the Office of Cyberspace Security.

Kurtz said the group’s initiatives will include:

More information about CSIA is available at www.csialliance.org.