POLICY: April 2009 Archives

Legislation expected to be introduced in the House and Senate would help protect the computers that control the country's power grid.  A review by some security experts suggests this legislation does not go far enough to be effective. READ MORE 

Update - Lawmakers compete to protect power grid from hackers, READ MORE

Proposed Legislation, DOWNLOAD

As the administration 60 day cybersecurity review is ending what agency in the government will have control over cybersecurity is becoming a divisive Issue.  READ MORE

RELATED:  During the recent RSA conference NSA Director Lt. Gen. Keith Alexander downplayed reports of the NSA's attempt to wrest control of cybersecurity responsibilities from rival federal agencies. READ MORE

Wired.com says it's refreshing to read a study on "Social Software and National Security," out of the Pentagon-sponsored National Defense University, that actually makes sense. Written by Mark Drapeau and former Pentagon CIO Lin Wells, the paper takes a clear-eyed view of what these new apps can do -- and makes some smart, if basic, suggestions for how government types might uses the tools. READ MORE

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Engaged Partnership for Disaster Response Webinar - a roadmap for integrating Critical Infrastructure response as a key element of the Nation's unified approach to incident management, part of the DHS Critical Infrastructure and Key Resources Learning Series

April 28, 2009, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. EDT

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Note:  You do not need a Homeland Security Information Network (HISN) account to register for this event.

Remarks by the National Counterintelligence Executive, Dr. Joel F. Brenner, at the Applied Research Laboratories, University of Texas at Austin. DOWNLOAD

A task force established by the Intelligence and National Security Alliance (INSA) has recommended that the federal government should establish minimum standards of cybersecurity for both public and private organizations, rather than focus primarily on requirements for protecting government computer networks, according to recommendations from an association of intelligence and security professionals. READ MORE    

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A report in the Wall Street Journal concludes that the U.S. electrical grid has been penetrated and software programs have been left behind that could be used to disrupt the system.  The intruders haven't sought to damage the power grid or other key infrastructure, but officials warned they could try during a crisis or war. READ MORE

The DHS Fusion Center initiative has inspired several dozen state and local centers nationwide over the past few years, including the Northern California Regional Terrorism Threat Assessment Center.  The fusion center concept has nonetheless been a civil liberties lightning rod and, by implication a political hot potato.  Recent testimony by the DHS civil liberties officer dispels negative myths but acknowledges real privacy challenges of fusion centers.  READ MORE

Testimony of Acting Deputy Officer for Programs and Compliance David D. Gersten, Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, before the House Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Intelligence, Information Sharing and Terrorism Risk Assessment, "The Future of Fusion Centers" - MORE INFO

Legislation proposed in the Senate would federalize cybersecurity.  Among other things, it would empower the federal government to impose cybersecurity protocols on private industry and establish a cabinet-level cyber czar position.  READ MORE  / PRESS RELEASE

Amit Yoran, the first director of the DHS National Cyber Security Division recently spoke to ExecutiveBiz on what it will take to re-align DHS and why he thinks handing the cyber mission to NSA would still be "ill-advised."  READ MORE

Director Robert Riegle, from the dHS State and Local Program Office, Office of Intelligence and Analysis, recently testified before the House Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Intelligence, Information Sharing, and Terrorism Risk Assessment, "The Future of Fusion Centers: Potential Promise and Dangers".  READ MORE