The security of the United States depends on secure, reliable and resilient information systems. In light of this need the national security community came together to address traditional and emerging information security issues. Increasing security in cyber space is a very complex undertaking. Cyber security cuts across so many lines in the executive branch of government it creates a maze that is difficult to navigate. When you look at responding to and investigating cyber attacks, the Department of Homeland Security oversees protection of government networks.
What we need is a holistic approach that focuses on securing the physical and information infrastructure that is critical for our nation to function. In order for this to happen the government must form a tighter relationship with the private sector. This is primarily due to the fact that most of the Internet’s infrastructure is owned and operated by private business. This is not a new issue. For nearly a decade now, the government has called for greater cooperation between the public and private sectors on this issue. So far the response from the private sector has been a cold shoulder. Increasing security around our information infrastructure to the level now required due to the threats by cyber war and organized criminal activity requires a huge and ambitious initiative. Cyber security has to become a top issue for the 44th president of the United States. Both candidates have very little to say about cyber security thus far. This month, the McCain campaign released a document that outlines his technology policy vision. A review of the document yielded very little insight into the issue of cyber security. In fact, it was barely mentioned. Obama’s position is not much different. That being said, Obama has stated his intention to create a new White House position of the Federal Chief Technology Officer.
It is clear that the next president must focus on achieving our strategic security policy and doctrine as they relate to the issue of cyber crime, attacks and cyber warfare. Real-time security management, threat response and situational awareness activities coupled with fortification of the information infrastructure are critical capabilities to ensure that our information communications capabilities are not disrupted and continue to function under a seemingly endless variety of adverse conditions. The threats against our information assets in the public and private sectors have risen to a level that the risks now demand the immediate attention by the White House.
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
I think DT should really stick to things that go boom.
To me as a computer scientist the entire “Cyber-warfare” column is one grotesque heap of nonsense, written by people that obviously do not even remotely understand the very basics of the trade.
The naming alone betrays ignorance. WTF prefix everything with “cyber”- without at least looking up what the word actually denotes.
I agree with commenter az…there are way too many vague statements and “scary words” repeated in this post. While I don’t deny there are some gaps in the private sector’s security coverage over our infrastructure, if you’re going to write a post on it please cite some specific examples.
“U.S. to deploy DNS Security in two years”
http://www.securityfocus.com/brief/807
“DNSSEC Deployment Initiative”
http://www.dnssec-deployment.org/
“Inside NSA Red Team Secret Ops With Government’s Top Hackers”
http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/military_law/4270420.html
“Crypto Kids”
http://www.nsa.gov/kids/
PS. Now that John McCain is the Republican candidate… I wonder how many times the movie “The Manchurian Candidate” (1962) will be aired on TV?
Be afraid, very afraid. Why, we missed Y2K Armageddon by just a hair.
Private industry deals with hacking and internet issues 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and has been for quite some time.
The idea that gov’t has anything to teach them is completely laughable. Even the Air Force doesn’t believe that anymore. The gov’t doesn’t want better security, it wants more hooks for surveillence. Which you “freedom lovers” can’t support enough.
Should have that position already in the DoD, State Dept, FEMA, Treasury Dept, CIA alone.
Long overdue since 2K “bug”.
Id rename the slot
Federal Information Systems Security Officer.
FISSO.
more accurate.
& now Gustav proves point even more.
Keep IS systems flowing anytime, anyplace
The premise that “The security of the United States depends on secure, reliable and resilient information systems.”, is not well established.
It is not at all obvious that poorly functioning systems in cyberspace are anything more than an inconvenience, the vast majority of the time anyway.
Usually, we learn about threats first through accidents, and then through intentional acts imitating accidents. Cyber attacks are relatively trivial threats to national security compared to the threats inherent in a well functioning cyber space, namely, easy and swift exchanges of information — which makes it easier for friend and foe alike to coordinate their activities and information themselves more accurately about facts relevant to their plans.
Replies.
1. AZ look at Estonia and the attacks on India’s information infrastructure and you will see why cyber warfare is being addressed!
2. Tartan69 welcome to the world of cyber warfare. You want had information and we do not have an agreed upon definition or doctrine to cover such acts.
3. Roy Smith – rant away but I would have to say your comment is as you put is filled with intangible things
This is bullshit. Government needs less access to the information infrastructure, not more.
The United States is being routed around by the rest of the world because of the Patriot Act and Sarbanes/Oxley. Companies don’t want the government to be able to pull all of their files instantly. The rest of the world realizes this and acts accordingly. We are scaring business away and soon will be a pariah in the international business community. (Hell, even Halliburton got the hell out and went to Dubai.) Executives can’t worry about travelling to the US without threat of all the info on their laptops disappearing into the DHS black hole.
The internet was designed to withstand a nuclear attack. There should be no main checkpoints and repositories. The US is quickly law-making itself into a third world nation.
Where are all the weirdos coming from?
Apparently this must have been linked to some Ron Paul forum or 9-11 truther forum.
If we have people we can rely on we wont need all that stuff. When 7/11 occurd why werent all these things working?
What a lame excuse for horrible belief systems!
If you have evil info then it’s linked to all evil. But if it’s good then expect war…Only good
attracts the evil of war and hacking…Prophecy…
It is not at all obvious that poorly functioning systems in cyberspace are anything more than an inconvenience, the vast majority of the time anyway.
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Most glitches in a PC are from PHP/scanners and
automatic remoteness….Just like my logins and posts…Your def.of inconvenience belittles a hackers mind of thievery!You will see why some day.
Pete you are the wierdo!You stick out like an ext.
url…Because you are one…Notice your post position and the ones you are looking at…
Security is kept by low output and using/surfing
all the right places etc…Keep to the ‘sheep trail
and don’t even blink to the left or right…’Pc memories are spread out all over the place…
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