The Meridian Process aims to exchange ideas and initiate actions for the cooperation of governmental bodies on Critical Information Infrastructure Protection (CIIP) issues globally. It explores the benefits and opportunities of cooperation between governments and provides an opportunity to share best practices from around the world.
The Meridian Process was partly founded on the Group of 8 (G8) Principles for Protecting Critical Information Infrastructures. Meridian Process seeks to create a community of senior government policymakers in CIIP by fostering ongoing collaboration. The Meridian Process recognizes that it is only by working together that we can advance our national CIIP goals and objectives.
Participation in the Meridian Process is open to all countries/economies and aimed at senior government policy-makers involved in CIIP-related issues. Every country/economy is invited to take part in the Meridian Process, and is encouraged to attend the annual Meridian Conference.
The Fundamental Principles of the Meridian Process
- Meridian is open to all countries/economies.
- Meridian is open to government policy makers interested in Critical Information Infrastructure Protection (CIIP).
- Meridian seeks to foster collaboration on CIIP issues of mutual concern amongst governments.
- Meridian annual conference provides a confidential forum for government delegates to promote open discussion and exchange of ideas
How Meridian Works
The Meridian Process began to formalize following the first Meridian Conference in 2005. The 2005 Meridian Conference was launched by the United Kingdom and was further strengthened after the consecutive conferences held in Hungary, Sweden, Singapore, the United States of America, Taiwan, Qatar, and Germany in 2012. Each annual conference is followed by an initiative in CIIP taken up by the host country to strengthen the Process.
The Meridian Process has a Steering Committee (SC) that includes all previous hosts and a Programme Committee (PC) to assist the forthcoming host country in developing the annual conference. Membership in the PC is flexible to obtain a mix of expertise and regional coverage of CIIP interest.
Past initiatives of the Meridian Process include the Meridian CIIP Directory, the Meridian Newsletter “CIIP Matters”, the permanent Meridian website (www.meridianprocess.org), the MACRO Guidelines on Organizing a Meridian Conference, the creation of the Meridian Process Control System Information Exchange (MPCSIE), and guidelines for planning a CIIP strategy.