By Kevin Coleman
Defense Tech Cyber War Correspondent
For some time now the CIA has been making investments in technology focused on defensive systems to prevent cyber threats, as well as offensive capabilities to launch cyber attacks and collect cyber intelligence. This is one of the CIA’s top three priorities within their current strategic plan looking out five years.
These are just a few of the numerous government wide initiatives to increase cyber capabilities across all agencies. These focus mainly on those who are responsible for protecting critical infrastructure within the United States like the Department of Homeland Security and the National Security Agency. Those who have reviewed this plan all concur, that technology and technological capabilities combine to become the key focus of the CIA’s strategic plan.
Inside officials said that the agency would substantively increase the technology budget by tens of millions of dollars. The same insiders said that technology provides advanced capabilities that increase the effectiveness and efficiency of intelligence collection, as well as increasing the ease with which covert operations can establish more credible covers.
In addition, the new technology will increase the collaborative capabilities of the CIA which is now a critical success factor for the organization. Some members of the intelligence community and experts in the field have expressed concern about the integrity of the new tech solutions given that many of the components that make up our technology capabilities come from foreign sources. “We need to bring hi-tech manufacturing back inside the United States,” said a source.
This is one of the reasons why Technolytics increased the intelligence technology market estimates back in June of 2009 to tens of billions of dollars.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Certainly there is a government-wide push to increase our cyber warfare capabilities. I know there are NSA and military facilities here that are spinning up new capabilities. I don't want to go into details, but they're hiring.
As for bringing manufacturing back to domestic facilities–I don't see that happening without the government ponying up. It is far, far cheaper for manufacturing to occur in Taiwan, Mexico, and even the PRC. (Witness the current controversy regarding working conditions at Foxconn.) As long as the Internet is based on COTS hardware, it's going to be based on hardware that is made outside the U.S. No company will voluntarily pay a premium for domestic manufacturing when margins in the industry are so razor thin. The government would have to subsidize the effort.
It is good to see another civilian agency augmenting the war fighting mission of our infantry and yes,our entire military`s combat effort.This is a critical field for the future.If only all other government agencies could help in someway to help our troops,as was the case in WWII.Cyber warfare and defense,now with more options, thanks to our CIA.(not voiced very often in past conflicts).
I see that there are some common sense ideas happening and I think it is about time. Warfare is mutating every day and that means we have to not only be on top of the changes, but ahead of them. Money for these efforts is always going to be the issue. Government spending is big in the news during this recession, but how can it not be? Our efforts to secure our safety and security around the world cost a bundle, as do our assitance to countries that feel the way we do about the threats looming.
I hope the public really gets their head around the fact that security and safety mean technology and that means money out of their pockets.
Bring all of the manufacturing back to the US! Not just tech.
CIB recipient.