Security Officers Network

The Security Officers' Network (SON) is a network of experts appointed by the Member State Competent Authorities (MSCAs), Mandated National Institutions (MNIs), the European Commission and the accredited industrial association CEFIC to represent Industry. It was established in 2007 as a sub-group of the former European Commission Working Group on the Practical Preparations for REACH.

The SON exists to ensure that a solid and shared security model is applied when the organisations represented in the SON are granted Internet access to restricted or highly restricted data in ECHA's databases. In fact, the ECHA Management Board has given SON a formal role in reviewing security requirements, agreeing on any deviations and in preparing security-related audit guidelines. SON provides advice to ECHA on security issues related to the secure access to ECHA's IT systems and exchange of information pertaining to the REACH, CLP, BPR and PIC Regulations, between ECHA, MSCAs, MNIs and the European Commission.

It also advises on security issues related to scientific IT tools (such as REACH-IT, R4BP 3, ePIC, IUCLID, Portal Dashboard) and the external collaboration platform S-CIRCABC. The network also acts as a platform for the exchange of best practices and mutual learning.

The Network consists of 80 Security Officers from 63 organisations in 30 EU/EEA countries and meets once a year. Directorate Information Systems in the Agency provides its secretariat and coordinates the network. The Security Officers are responsible for informing their respective organisations of the discussions and decisions made during SON meetings and represent the local focal point for the fulfilment of the security requirements.