REVIEW FINDINGS FOR CYBERSECURITY PROGRAMS

By D.E.Levine

On April 17th Melissa Hathaway completed her review of the U.S. government's cybersecurity programs for President Obama. At this year's RSA Security Conference she announced that collaboration between the private and public sectors is needed to protect critical systems.

She was adamant about the task of leading cybersecurity efforts being the "fundamental responsibility of our government." Her comments raised some controversy among those who believe in less government involvement.

However, according to Hathaway, government's leadership mandate "transcends" those of individual agencies. She added that no individual agency actually has the broad enough perspective to match the challenges facing the country and consumers.

Hathaway admitted that the government isn't organized "appropriately" to address cybersecurity threats. There's a great deal of overlapping authority between agencies which leaves everyone concerned uncertain about who actually has responsibility and power to institute changes.

In essence Hathaway's comments supported other comments by elected officials (senators and congressmen) to overhaul federal cybersecurity processes.

New legislation has already been summitted in the House and the Senate to give federal officials new powers to set security standards and policies for key industries and government agencies.

A companion bill being contemplated would create a cybersecurity office within the White House.

The bills were the result of recommendations made by the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

General Keith Alexander, director of the National Security Agency, also spoke at RSA and commented that the NSA isn't looking to take control of the national cybersecurity agenda but instead wants to work with the Department of Homeland Security to provide technical support to combat cybersecurity threats,