This white paper explores the intersection of the technology, business culture and the law surrounding consumer privacy. It examines historical origins of individual privacy rights and explores the current societal debate over misuses of individual information. It provides models for how enterprises can begin to address privacy in both cultural and technological terms.

Cisco Systems is the premier provider of network security technology and products. As a vendor, Cisco knows that products can serve to enforce higher level policies and corporate culture, but are not a substitute for these elements. In the case of privacy, technology is necessary for real-world implementation, but a secure infrastructure is not necessarily the same as a private infrastructure. Cisco understands that no matter how great the investment in products and services, no enterprise can be secure without the cooperation of individuals, and a clear definition of what they need to do. This paper addresses the questions of privacy, culture, and policy, to help businesses and institutions start to address the inevitable changes in these areas.