{"id":3441,"date":"2021-05-25T23:42:00","date_gmt":"2021-05-25T21:42:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/webdev.atsec.us\/?p=3441"},"modified":"2024-08-19T21:30:23","modified_gmt":"2024-08-19T19:30:23","slug":"the-genesis-of-atsecs-name-logo-and-websites","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/webdev.atsec.us\/the-genesis-of-atsecs-name-logo-and-websites\/","title":{"rendered":"The genesis of atsec\u2019s name, logo, and websites"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"799\" height=\"478\" src=\"https:\/\/webdev.atsec.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/website1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3442\" srcset=\"https:\/\/webdev.atsec.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/website1.png 799w, https:\/\/webdev.atsec.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/website1-300x179.png 300w, https:\/\/webdev.atsec.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/website1-768x459.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 799px) 100vw, 799px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>When <strong>atsec<\/strong> was about to be founded, one of the first questions the founders (a German, an Italian, and a Swede) had was which name would best represent the company&#8217;s approach to information security, but more importantly, whether the domain would be available.&nbsp;<br><br>Here is the list of all the available domain names in December 1999 that were possible candidates:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>attento<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>atsec<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>atcert<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>atcrypto<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>atsec<\/strong>, <strong>atcert<\/strong>, and <strong>atcrypto<\/strong> were considered along with <strong>attento<\/strong>, which means &#8220;watch out&#8221; in Italian; <strong>attento<\/strong> was eliminated since it had meaning in Italian only and not much in the large Anglo-Saxon market where the company was about to appear.<br><br>Even though we bought the domains <strong>atcert.com<\/strong> and <strong>atcrypto.com<\/strong>, we decided that <strong>atcert<\/strong> and <strong>atcrypto<\/strong> did not fit our service portfolio because one would limit the perception of the company to a certificate authority and the other to cryptography.<br><br>The decision landed on <strong>atsec<\/strong>, which is a short version of &#8220;atsecurity.&#8221; The choice of the &#8220;@&#8221; in the logo seemed the most logical thing to do at the time. In particular, the \u201c@\u201d sign would signal the company\u2019s core commitment to IT security. Also, <strong>atsec<\/strong> was a new word that did not exist before then.<br><br>The first logo was plain and simple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"98\" src=\"https:\/\/webdev.atsec.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/website.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3443\" style=\"width:394px;height:auto\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The color red symbolizes passion for the subject, and the italic font portrays speed and movement, like a Formula 1 race car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"133\" src=\"https:\/\/webdev.atsec.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/redcar.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3444\" style=\"width:385px;height:auto\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The red line on the left represents the four guiding principles to be consistently followed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>&#8211; Know the business.<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>&#8211; Act with integrity.<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>&#8211; Stay focused.<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>&#8211; Be independent.<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, the reversal of the word &#8220;atsec&#8221; is the word &#8220;cesta,&#8221; which means &#8220;basket&#8221; in Italian, and it is always associated with a basket of goodies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"187\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/webdev.atsec.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/cesta.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3445\" style=\"width:282px;height:auto\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Passion, speed, and a basket of goodies: <strong>atsec<\/strong> was born. It was January 11th, 2000. A brand-new word, logo, concept, and a basket of good IT Security experts.&nbsp; We had a winner!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The second logo was a bit catchier but did not last long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"146\" src=\"https:\/\/webdev.atsec.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/logo-old.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3446\" style=\"width:484px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/webdev.atsec.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/logo-old.png 320w, https:\/\/webdev.atsec.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/logo-old-300x137.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The word &#8220;key&#8221; was somehow limiting <strong>atsec<\/strong> to cryptography.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2001, during a consulting engagement at a prominent Internet Service Provider (ISP) in Germany, the motto was formed by playing with the acronymous \u201cISP\u201d to make &#8220;atsec: the information security provider.&#8221;&nbsp;<br>The expression completely defines <strong>atsec<\/strong>&#8216;s mission, dedication, and commitment to &#8220;Information Security.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The first full logo with the motto was born sometime in early 2001.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"114\" src=\"https:\/\/webdev.atsec.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/logo-old-2.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3447\" style=\"width:332px;height:auto\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2005, the logo was restyled and has remained the same to this day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"108\" src=\"https:\/\/webdev.atsec.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/logo-new.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3448\" style=\"width:533px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/webdev.atsec.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/logo-new.png 400w, https:\/\/webdev.atsec.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/logo-new-300x81.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This logo has been trademarked and copyrighted since 2006. The website design has changed several times but has always been kept simple, with no flash or pop-up windows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For <strong>atsec<\/strong>, information security is a science. However, the cultural components were never to be underestimated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Our first two websites were just plain and simple with the logo and language options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"258\" height=\"178\" src=\"https:\/\/webdev.atsec.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/lang1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3449\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"246\" height=\"160\" src=\"https:\/\/webdev.atsec.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/lang2.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3450\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The first relevant version of the <strong>atsec<\/strong> website came later in 2001. It was a simple design focused on content and news from our projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"344\" src=\"https:\/\/webdev.atsec.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/website4.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3451\" style=\"width:486px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/webdev.atsec.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/website4.png 400w, https:\/\/webdev.atsec.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/website4-300x258.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The first website\u2019s transformation came in 2003 and stayed the same until 2010.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Teamwork and expansion were emphasized in the message by choosing a sailing boat as a symbol. Incidentally, from 2003 to 2010, <strong>atsec<\/strong> expanded in the US by establishing a branch in Austin, TX in 2003. This was followed, a few years later, by Stockholm, Sweden, and then Beijing, China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"323\" src=\"https:\/\/webdev.atsec.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/website5.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3452\" style=\"width:452px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/webdev.atsec.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/website5.png 400w, https:\/\/webdev.atsec.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/website5-300x242.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>It is worth noting that ours was probably among the first information security websites that was translated into 10 languages, one of them even being Latin!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By the way, the sailing boat theme is still used in some of our marketing material.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"228\" height=\"320\" src=\"https:\/\/webdev.atsec.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/blue.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3453\" srcset=\"https:\/\/webdev.atsec.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/blue.png 228w, https:\/\/webdev.atsec.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/blue-214x300.png 214w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 228px) 100vw, 228px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"169\" height=\"245\" src=\"https:\/\/webdev.atsec.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/yellow.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3454\" style=\"width:228px;height:auto\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2010, the website changed and moved to a futuristic design.&nbsp; Futurism was an artistic movement that originated in Italy in the early 20th century. Its emphasis was on action, speed, and technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The website would underline the &#8220;looking-forward&#8221; concept, as many changes were happening during that time in the Common Criteria standard used for security evaluations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the same time, <strong>atsec<\/strong> was slowly building its FIPS reputation as the founder of the International Cryptographic Module Conference (ICMC), and several other initiatives in the standards and technical communities.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"456\" src=\"https:\/\/webdev.atsec.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/website6.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3455\" srcset=\"https:\/\/webdev.atsec.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/website6.png 640w, https:\/\/webdev.atsec.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/website6-300x214.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhSlVlSLogmx68JOuFOpOpdZotBeQT4Cy7OjsLxbrY6IQqwHbsLzbsalUCNATX68hqCPt5kOWrfzH8HVHxkZ87fTdnZm3MePiUOJJqRq4J-oceg5Ah2TQMXKmqbQl4eM8tKdiu7dL1XKTI\/s941\/Screen+Shot+2021-05-25+at+10.06.53+AM.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Surprisingly, the website&#8217;s design confused many customers and visitors, so it was changed after five years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2015, the website featured motifs echoing elements of Art Deco, a visual art, architecture, and design style of the early 20th century, which highlights a sleeker form style, curving shapes, and simple lines. As one of the first truly international styles, Art Deco could appropriately represent <strong>atsec<\/strong>&#8216;s global status and service offerings.<a href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjhLwVfovQLQ4x5DJSwdZH2FnI1vWtCq8mNbjzQ8EOeco74PM8U8-1eQ1shftWaYG2q58j7SDCuSpL9qu82NjUIV27wuEMET0N7knO2hPngK3fsTAvMHaj2jtOmIFFMAt5co4rTKgGGvdg\/s1022\/Screen+Shot+2021-05-25+at+10.07.11+AM.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"639\" height=\"350\" src=\"https:\/\/webdev.atsec.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/website7.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3456\" srcset=\"https:\/\/webdev.atsec.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/website7.png 639w, https:\/\/webdev.atsec.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/website7-300x164.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 639px) 100vw, 639px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The current website features a modern design, with simple forms and colors that add a sense of space and positive energy.&nbsp; The blue sky represents the boundaries (the sky is the limit, pun intended), the golden globe represents the value of our services to customers worldwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/webdev.atsec.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/website8.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3457\" srcset=\"https:\/\/webdev.atsec.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/website8.png 640w, https:\/\/webdev.atsec.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/website8-300x132.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The new web design continues to reflect <strong>atsec<\/strong>&#8216;s dynamic team.&nbsp; We continue to evolve, constantly searching, adapting, and creating opportunities for our colleagues, customers, and suppliers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We remain one of the prominent validation and testing laboratories. Our services are appreciated by our customers, agencies, and even competitors.&nbsp; After more than 21 years, <strong>atsec<\/strong> is a significant and independent player in the validation business.<br><strong><br>It is a good story to tell.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As we launch the new website today, on the US operation\u2019s 18th birthday, I encourage the new management team to continue the legacy imprinted in the four founding principles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"187\" src=\"https:\/\/webdev.atsec.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/heads.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3458\" srcset=\"https:\/\/webdev.atsec.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/heads.png 640w, https:\/\/webdev.atsec.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/heads-300x88.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>I want to thank all our colleagues within <strong>atsec<\/strong> today, and whoever has contributed to making this company a successful, independent, and enabling platform that allows information security and assurance practitioners to grow and prosper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"639\" height=\"448\" src=\"https:\/\/webdev.atsec.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/taleent-tree.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3459\" srcset=\"https:\/\/webdev.atsec.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/taleent-tree.png 639w, https:\/\/webdev.atsec.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/taleent-tree-300x210.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 639px) 100vw, 639px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Once more.<br>&#8230;sal.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When atsec was about to be founded, one of the first questions the founders (a German, an Italian, and a Swede) had was which name would best represent the company&#8217;s approach to information security, but more importantly, whether the domain would be available.&nbsp; Here is the list of all the available domain names in December [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":3442,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/webdev.atsec.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3441"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/webdev.atsec.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/webdev.atsec.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webdev.atsec.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webdev.atsec.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3441"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/webdev.atsec.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3441\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3462,"href":"https:\/\/webdev.atsec.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3441\/revisions\/3462"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webdev.atsec.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3442"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/webdev.atsec.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3441"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webdev.atsec.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3441"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webdev.atsec.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3441"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}