SBC Communications announced Monday that it is forming an Internet security project designed to improve network defenses.

The project, known as the Internet Assurance and Security Center (IASC), will be designed and managed by SBC Technology Resources, the company's research and development center in Austin, Texas. The Baby Bell said it is launching IASC in response to the growing threats from viruses, worms, denial-of-service attacks and other sources.

IASC will focus on developing security technologies and standards that can be applied at different levels of large telecommunications networks that handle Internet, voice and data traffic for millions of consumers and businesses. While the majority of current security efforts, such as firewalls, place the primary burden of security on end users, the center's research will support an approach that encompasses all elements of the network. Its focus will include telecom providers, enterprise networks, customer networks, and hardware and software makers.

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