Napolitano Highlights Recent DHS Cybersecurity Initiatives

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano outlined what the agency is doing and has been doing to protect cyberspace in a talk before the University of California Berkeley College of Engineering on Monday.

“Our nation has come together to meet great challenges before. I’m confident that together, we can meet this one,” Napolitano said. “Together, we can – and we will – achieve a cyberspace that is safe and resilient, and that remains a source of tremendous opportunity and growth for years and years to come.”

Highlights:

• DHS is fostering a close partnership with other agencies and the private sector in deploying the National Cybersecurity Protection System (pdf) – featuring the EINSTEIN intrusion detection system that helps block attackers from access federal executive branch civilian agencies.
• Working with companies that handle DHS and other government information fight threats. Example: The hack of computer security company RSA last month where DHS working with law enforcement and intelligence community partners to quell the threat.
• Partnering with antivirus companies so they could take proactive measures to stop possible threats from reaching an even broader audience and more aggressively sharing information on attacks to the federal government to stop them from spreading.
• Spearheading the development of the first-ever National Cyber Incident Response Plan (NCIRP) that lays out responsibilities of federal agencies, state and local officials and the private sector during a cyber crisis.
• The DHS Science and Technology Directorate is also leading efforts to develop and deploy more secure internet protocols that protect consumers and industry internet users. The office is also supporting multiple efforts to protect internet infrastructure from attack by creating new tools to detect malicious software on networks, and new test beds and measurement techniques to help characterize and develop countermeasures for current and emerging cyber attacks.

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