Prioritization is an important element of any security strategy. Once a risk assessment is performed we can start building systems that protect what is most vulnerable and essential. Since breaches can happen at all levels of the city government, it is also important to develop protocols that can be leveraged by federal, state and local officials. Further adoption of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Cybersecurity Framework would help provide robust protection for public-sector organizations and citizens alike, at the same time also reducing the administrative burden and uncertainty for smaller agencies (Daley, 2016). Take an Intelligence-led, Analytics-based Approach Effective cybersecurity can no longer rely on a …show more content…
Invest in Cybersecurity Talent No cybersecurity initiative can succeed without the proper talent to back it up. Unfortunately, many government organizations are finding themselves short on the skills and competencies required to stave off digital threats due to budget constraints. Also, not being adequately equipped to conduct threat and vulnerability assessments is a major short fall. To prepare for the next wave of digital threats, all government-sector leaders must allocate resources to build a strong cybersecurity team. Investment should not only be made in equipment and in personnel but also in cybersecurity education and training. City officials deterred by the idea of additional spending should consider the potential cost of a data breach. In today’s data-driven world, a reactive approach to cybersecurity will not cut it. By developing a robust, proactive cybersecurity strategy, government agencies will be better equipped to prepare for, prevent and resolve digital threats into the future (Daley, 2016). Digital Forensics A forensic team will identify direct evidence of a crime, digital forensics can be used to attribute evidence to specific suspects, confirm alibis or statements, determine intent, identify sources. This team will also be assigned to investigate and process systems encompasses seizure, forensic imaging (acquisition) and analysis
In order to understand the true problems with these plans in place, we must first discuss what these practices are. In early 2016, former President Obama created a Cybersecurity National Action Plan or CNAP, for short. The issue of cybersecurity is a very big one in the United States and President Obama knows and understands the true importance of this issue. The CNAP discusses some of the most important concerns over this topic and does the best it can to combat it with the best of its ability. This plan includes things such as establishing a commission on enhancing national cybersecurity using experts from outside the government, a proposal of a $3.1 billion dollar Information Technology Modernization Fund to help modernize and replace old information about this subject in the government, and invest close to $19 billion dollars for cybersecurity (The President’s National Cybersecurity Plan: What You Need to Know).
The EO13636 chief objective is to improve the Cybersecurity Framework of principles and determine what the best practices are that may possibly be taken to decrease the threat from all cyber dangers. Under EO13636, The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), National Security Staff, and The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will coordinate with additional investors to advance the Cybersecurity Framework. National Institute of Standards and Technology executives are asking that everyone who is involved take an active role in the development of this Framework (Fischer et al., 2013)
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is Incharge of shielding our country’s crucial infrastructure from physical and cyber dangers. Of the varied kinds of infrastructure, cyberspace is crucial constituting the information regarding the government and business operations, crisis management and readiness information, and our crucial digital and process control systems. Safeguarding these critical resources and infrastructure is
“The number of cyber incidents reported by federal agencies increased in fiscal year 2013 significantly over the prior 3 years. An effective response to a cyber incident is essential to minimize any damage that might be caused.”
Today however, a new type of warfare has emerged and occurs when outside entities conduct an attack on a power grid, network, or both with the intent of causing damage. This type of warfare is called cyber warfare. In the United States computers control everything. It is no secret that hostile countries and terrorist organizations are cognizant and they know our economy, security, and infrastructure can be crippled by a successful cyber-attack. Examples of potential targets for cyber terrorists include military bases, water systems, banking facilities, air traffic control centers and power plants. Even the Commander in Chief, President Obama has stated the threat of a cyber war is real and we must prepare for it and increase our security measures. First, this paper will discuss cyberterrorism and cyber-attacks as they pose a direct threat to national security and the economy. Then, we will review cyber-attacks against the U.S. from China, Iran, and Russia along with the impact and possible ramifications from those attacks. Finally, this paper discusses U.S. strategies to minimize the impact of cyber-attacks.
Recognition of the highly networked nature of the current federal computing environment while providing effective oversight of information security risks, including management of security efforts throughout the civilian, national security, and law enforcement communities.
Predicting attacks is important, but swift response is key. DHS realized that the only way to have effective incident responses is to have plenty of practice and close cooperation across government and with the private sector. To prepare for and ensure effective cooperation during a significant event, DHS instituted a cyber-attack exercise program to periodically test processes and procedures for responding to a significant cyber incident impacting the financial sector. These exercises will help clarify roles and responsibilities, identify gaps in response plans and capabilities, and assist with developing plans to address those
On February 12, 2015 president Obama signed an executive order with the intention to expand the Cybersecurity of the U.S. and to promote principles of collaboration not just in America but around the globe. Cybersecurity has been identified as one of the most challenging subjects of the 21st-century; moreover, cyber-attacks can further compromise the future of our economic development as much as our national security and the decrement of our civil rights and privacy. Since Obama initiate his administration, he has been working on establishing the framework to better balance the interaction between, government agencies, private sector, and the general public. The objective in this essay is to better understand the connotations from several
The article “Defending America in Cyberspace” in the journal The National Interest authored by Keith Alexander, Emily Goldman, and Michael Warner taught me much about how the Department of Homeland Security handles America’s cyber threats. The Department of Security is the lead agency in protecting America from domestic cybersecurity incidents. It stated how America fights Cyber crime and security threats. In this day and age, countries are very vulnerable to skilled hackers. Some of them not even under the age 18.
Recommend policies, standards, guidelines and procedures that would support the creation of a strong and vital cyber security programs at state agencies.
Without a doubt, cybersecurity is one of the biggest threats the DHS faces. As technology evolves, this threat will continue to grow. What is the department doing about it? A cyber-attack could cause serious damage to our critical infrastructure if it was done properly. This is something that must be protected! The first step is to protect our federal networks and critical infrastructure. “The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) works with each federal civilian department and agency to promote the adoption of common policies and best practices that are risk-based and able to effectively respond to the pace of ever-changing threats. As systems are protected, alerts can be issued at machine speed when events are detected
In the previous five years, cybersecurity has turned into the most looked for after calling around the world. More than 90 percent of respondents to an overview directed by the Ponemon Institute (2011) detailed being a casualty to cyberattacks amid the most recent year, costing all things considered more than $2 million for each association. This number keeps on ascending as the two programmers and security devices progress. As indicated by PwC, roughly 33% of all U.S. organizations are as of now utilizing digital protection (Lindros and Tittel, 2016).
For the possibility of an uptick in cyber incidents, the federal government has developed a number of tools to help
Every state in the nation should have a comprehensive IT security policy due to the “growing array of state and non-state actors are compromising, stealing, changing, or destroying information and could cause critical disruptions to U.S. systems” ("Cyberspace policy RevIew", 2016). Because of “ the dual challenge of maintaining an environment that promotes efficiency, innovation, economic prosperity, and free trade while also promoting safety, security, civil liberties, and privacy rights” ("Cyberspace policy RevIew", 2016). It is the responsibility of state and the federal government “ to address strategic vulnerabilities in cyberspace and ensure that the United States and the world realize the full potential of the information technology revolution” ("Cyberspace policy RevIew", 2016).
As we allow the Internet to become more and more embedded into our lives the topic of cyber security also need to become more embedded in our lives as well. Duncan Campbell, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Bankers Association, points out, “Now more than ever, the world is vulnerable to hacking, phishing, data breaches, malware attacks and denial of service attempts from bad actors and nation states who want to compromise individual identification data and wreak havoc on our economy,” (Campbell). Each year we here about these attacks, Target, T. J. Maxx, Home Depot just to name a few. More concerning then, the frequency of these attacks is the magnitude of the data lost in these attacks.