PETER A. JACOBSON
CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT

UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE

APRIL 2001
POSTAL SERVICE MANAGERS AND EMPLOYEES

SUBJECT: Information Security

Information security is a top priority for the Postal Service, particularly as we move into the world of eBusiness. It has never been more important that we update, maintain, and improve security processes to protect the integrity of our product and service offerings and, just as important, to protect our customers and employees.

It's all about delivering trust in a changing world. Simply put, the value of our brand-in traditional and new eBusiness areas-depends on how well we safeguard sensitive information and integrate information security into our systems, processes, and daily activities.

Security is the process of ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of our information and operations. It's essential to operational stability and the ability to detect, protect, and recover from disruptions, such as hacking and tampering.

Success in this area will require an elevated focus and priority on information security. Information security must be an integral feature of every new product, service, system, strategic partnership, or alliance. Security issues and their attendant risks and concerns must be primary considerations during the planning and development process-not something to be applied in the latter- or post-development stages.

To safeguard postal resources, you must integrate information security into your daily activities and those of your organizations. The stakes are high-maintaining trust and confidence in the Postal Service, in its people, in its products, and in its services. That is the value of our brand, which we cannot and should not put at risk.

The Postal Service is committed to creating and maintaining an environment that protects its information resources from accidental or intentional unauthorized use, modification, disclosure, destruction, or denial of service resulting from internal failure, human error, attack, or natural catastrophe. This commitment is reflected by our security policies, a corporate information security office, and a newly formed security executive council chaired by the deputy postmaster general.

Information security is not just a technology issue. It is also a business and personal issue. It's the responsibility of every postal employee and business partner. I know I can count on your support in making the security of our information and operations reflect the highest levels of care and good judgement.

PETER A. JACOBSON
475 L'ENFANT PLAZA SW
WASHINGTON DC 20260-5500
202-268-6200
FAx: 202-266-6207