Task force aims to improve US cybersecurity
'This is not a tech focus; it is a Washington focus'
Agentless Backup is Not a Myth
A blue-ribbon panel of three dozen security experts hopes to craft a strategy to improve the United States' cybersecurity by the time the next president takes office, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), and the task force's Congressional sponsors, announced on Tuesday.
The bipartisan Commission on Cyber Security for the 44th Presidency will be tasked with creating a plan to secure the nation's computers and critical infrastructure and presenting that plan to the next president. The task force is headed by Representatives Jim Langevin (D-RI) and Michael McCaul (R-TX), Microsoft's vice president for Trustworthy Computing Scott Charney and retired Navy admiral Bobby Inman.
The commission will have at least four major meetings over the next year to hash out an agenda, investigate the issues and make recommendations, James Lewis, senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), which is funding the commission.
"This is not a tech focus; it is a Washington focus," Lewis said. "You always have an opportunity, when a new administration comes in, to do some quick fixes and that is what we are trying to do with this commission."
Cybersecurity has not been a major priority for past administrations. In 1998, President Clinton signed Presidential Decision Directive No. 63, which required agencies to take steps to protect eight critical infrastructures.
In 2000, the Clinton Administration unveiled its National Plan to Protect Critical Infrastructure, but failed to fund critical programs to push federal agencies to secure their systems.
While many of those agencies have slowly improved their security compliance scores under the Federal Information System Management Act (FISMA) of 2002, the Bush Administration has also largely failed to create strong recommendations or requirements to improve cybersecurity.
This year, the House Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cyber Security and Science and Technology has taken an increasing interest in federal agencies' failure to protect themselves against online attacks.
The Department of State acknowledged in June 2006 that attackers had installed remote access software on systems in the agency and abroad, stolen passwords and targeted information on China and North Korea. In October 2006, the Department of Commerce took hundreds of computers offline following a series of attacks aimed at federal employees' computer accounts by online thieves that appear to be based in China.
"I believe the government, across all levels, is too complacent when it comes to protecting their digital assets and this needs to change,” commission co-chair Rep. Langevin, who also heads the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cyber Security and Science and Technology, said in a statement.
COMMENTS
Steamy Windows..... Cracked Panes ..... Cracked Up Pains in the but, but, but Butt?
A couple of million, in relative terms, is just Pin Money, Lou. But I'm sure they mean well. It's bound to do its bit to ease their conscience although the other side of the coin would be for it to be seen as blood money.
Damned if they do and damned if they don't ...... which is a very convenient cop out too.
In related news...
Microsoft sets aside a couple million in bonuses for employees of the Center for Strategic and International Studies task force, to be paid at the conclusion of the study.
AI Unifying Theory for Everything ......an Alien Discipline? :-)
"I believe the government, across all levels, is too complacent when it comes to protecting their digital assets and this needs to change,”
Some would suggest that presently, across all levels, they are not worth protecting and that any money to be spent, would be better spent, changing them.
Is the "protection" plan going to be a dumb one akin to a plan that would think to bury them deep underground in a bunker, out of sight and for secret personal Use and Abuse or simply to deny more and more freedom of/to information and digital requests.
That would surely be a wanton profligate waste rendering a Global Sign of the State of the National Intelligence Estimate.
"‘Task force aims to improve US cybersecurity’" ........ Methinks that digital securuty is a dodgy issue to get right because it is so easy to fall victim and casualty to friendly fire.
Hell though, should the White House going Pink with Hillary enthroned and in charge of Bill's Laundry Bills, [On your knees, boy. Yes Ma'am, Mrs President. Your wish is my Command] and all bets are wild and off.
Has anyone ever considered that the World just follows AAAA Script? Have you ever thought that it is more a junk novel/comic book rather than a literary masterpiece/piece de la resistance/tour de force? Do you never think about who would think to think to write such a tome and for whom and what it would be worth on the Open Market?
Although what IT would be worth, and what it would actually cost, bear absolutely no relationship to each other, which would make it a very attractive proposition and XXXXstreamly easy to sell...... as in essence it would be both priceless and cost nothing Generating as IT does ..... Everything.
IT infrastructure monitoring strategies
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Data control in the cloud
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Agentless Backup is Not a Myth
