POLICY: October 2009 Archives

A recent GAO report discussed how increased demand during a severe pandemic could exceed the capacities of Internet providers' access networks for residential users and interfere with teleworkers in the securities market and other sectors, according to a DHS study and providers (see figure below). Private Internet providers have limited ability to prioritize traffic or take other actions that could assist critical teleworkers. Some actions, such as reducing customers' transmission speeds or blocking popular Web sites, could negatively impact e-commerce and require government authorization. However, DHS has not developed a strategy to address potential Internet congestion or worked with federal partners to ensure that sufficient authorities to act exist. It also has not assessed the feasibility of conducting a campaign to obtain public cooperation to reduce nonessential Internet use to relieve congestion. DHS also has not begun coordinating with other federal and private sector entities to assess other actions that could be taken or determine what authorities may be needed to act.  GAO REPORT

Related, in the press ... READ MORE

The Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Proliferation and Terrorism in an interim report card found that the administration has not given enough attention to the threat of biological warfare even as it has provided appropriate attention to the threat of nuclear weapons.

THE CLOCK IS TICKING: A Progress Report on America's Preparedness to Prevent Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism (October 21, 2009) DOWNLOAD

DHS has recently released a report from the Homeland Security and Analysis Institute that offers "recommendations on how the members of the DHS Intelligence Enterprise and the corresponding risk community can improve their collaboration in producing decision-quality threat inputs." It identifies "outstanding research issues" and a "need for greater cross-discipline familiarity" and recommends "moving beyond 'supply and demand' to mutually beneficial collaboration" and "leveraging systematic engagement to achieve better threat judgments."  VIEW REPORT

DHS has just published a notice in the Federal Register seeking public comment on three new standards identified for adoption under the Voluntary Private Sector Preparedness Accreditation and Certification Program (PS-Prep).  Those of you who attended our Summer 2009 Quarterly meeting will recall that we were alerted to this upcoming event.

PS-Prep is a partnership between DHS and the private sector that enables private entities--including businesses, non-profit organizations and universities--to receive emergency preparedness certification from a DHS/FEMA accreditation system created in coordination with the private sector.

DHS Press Release

PS-PREP On-Line Resource Center

PS-PREP Fact Sheet

Federal Register Announcement

RELATED:  The DHS/FEMA PS-PREP program is meeting some harsh criticism from industry. READ MORE

Experts suggest that in the event of a widespread cyberattack, the United States could face the same lack of coordination and preparedness the nation experienced after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks because the government has not developed clear policies for how to respond.  READ MORE

RELATED:  Terrorists nearing ability to launch big cyberattacks against U.S.  READ MORE

Lt. Gen. Keith B. Alexander is the director of the National Security Agency, the largest intelligence agency in the government, and with little public fanfare he has been setting up the central nervous system in the government's new campaign to defend cyberspace. The agency historically has not been a front-line guardian of civilian government networks, much less the systems that run privately owned electrical plants, dams and financial systems. But that is changing. READ MORE

"We're not getting a cyber czar; we're getting a coordinator. A czar is a bad idea. A coordinator is a great idea," Homeland Security Deputy Undersecretary Philip Reitinger said todayt. He also defended the prolonged process for hiring the official, who will report jointly to the National Security Council and National Economic Council. "We need the right person, not a person immediately" .  READ MORE

The Sixth Annual National Cyber Security Awareness Month will be celebrated during October 2009, as a collective effort among the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center , the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's National Cyber Security Division , the National Cyber Security Alliance and the National Association of State Chief Information Officers .

One might ask ... Where is InfraGard???

National Cyber Security Awareness Month Webcast
October 8, 2009 - 2:00pm-3:00pm Eastern
Topic: Our Shared Responsibility -- The Strategy for Promoting Cyber Security Awareness

This webcast will address strategies on how to promote cyber security awareness at all levels - including government, businesses and academia - with specific advice about how you can be actively involved to help facilitate a safe Internet experience. This webcast is a must-attend for anyone who wants to enhance computer security education and awareness throughout their organizations and learn about best practices from some of the nation's leading cyber security organizations.  MORE INFO

ARTICLE:  FBI, NCTC, DHS explain how they work together to defeat terrorists, READ MORE

PRESS RELEASE:  FBI, NCTC, DHS testimony to Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. READ MORE

The hearing web archive includes the testimony from the heads of the FBI, National Counter-Terrorism Center (NCTC), and Homeland Security Department (DHS), MORE INFO