ACSA stands for Applied Computer Security Associates which is a non- profit association of computer security professionals having a common goal for the improvement of understanding, theory, and practice of computer security. ACSA supports all which it finds in the favor of its goal i.e. making the computer security field better. ACSA was initially the on-going organization that provided funds in continuation to the Annual Computer Security Applications Conference. Earlier, the organization was established in 1985 as the Aerospace Computer Security Associates. The organization was settled in the state of Maryland in 1987. Later, the conference was renamed as the Annual Computer Applications Conference in 1989. In 1995, ACSA finally named itself as the Applied Computer Security Associates.
The current activities of ACSA include Annual Computer Security Applications Conference, New Security Paradigms Workshop, Information Security Bookshelf, Marshal D. Abrams invited Essay program, etc. ACSA is funding a major activity i.e. ACSAC with its goal to analyze technology applications in the area of computersecurity, for both military and civil applications. It works at software and hardware tools and techniques. In the conference, there are two programs. One is a two full day of a formal tutorial program and the other a half day technical program. New Security Paradigms Workshop. NSPW was started in1992 and it provided a stimulating interactive assembly for creative approaches to PC security. This workshop gives a constructive lesson to all its receptors including practitioners, experienced researchers and even the newer participants in the field.
Earlier, it worked on SAC Technology Advocacy Committee, WAEPSSD and ISSRR Workshop, etc. Among these SAC targeted to advance it and increase its awareness in the marketplace. It has the mechanism for multilevel security. It aimed to identify research and commercial opportunities for SAC. WAEPSSD had its objective to examine fundamentals of engineering, with the good principle for designing and building secure systems. The ISSRR, Information Security System Rating and Ranking Workshop worked in exploring the intent and meaning of approaches for ranking and rating information assurance. It pointed itself at discovering some indirect indicators of security. ACSA welcomes those who wish to be members and continue supporting its programs. There are presently two grades of membership, Fellows and Senior Fellows. These members are elected and serve as Board-of-directors for various ACSA sponsored activities.