DISQUS

CTOvision: My Opinion: NYT wants cyber security to be a divisive issue.

  • Bob · 8 months ago
    As I thought about this there were a couple of other issues I think are relevant to capture.
    Just like it takes teams to run the government and teams to defend the country and teams to enforce laws, it takes teams to enhance cyber security. The meta-team for cyber security can probably be thought of as a DHS, DoD, DNI team in government, but this team is also between government and industry and with allies. Everyone needs to pull their weight in this.
    As for NSA, they have a great technical foundation and are already thought leaders and agile protectors able to lead in most dimensions, they would be a great base to lead DoD/IC protection in the cyber domain. In fast moving operations it is especially important to remove ambiguity and to do that I believe NSA should be formally given the lead for defending DoD/IC systems (but it remains a team sport). For the same reasons, DHS should be given the lead to defend the rest of the .gov networks (while still leaning on NSA/DoD/DNI as required for technical support and training). And all will need to work with industry and allies in a coordinated, fast moving way.
    More later,
    Bob
  • Greg O'Hara · 8 months ago
    I see it this way. DHS is the head agency to head up a Dept. of CyberSecurity. The NSA and other USGOV agencies like it, but working in different expertise, are tools to be used in the fight, not entities among themselves to take a bit of the fight and try to do what it will take many to do.
    The NSA is a tool, the DIA is a means to perform those things that involve the DOD. Since CyberSecurity will come from all directions, it takes a multifaceted agency to direct fire to the target, those using the "net" against any nation. DOD systems have a need to self-correct, that's why there are system administrators and system security professionals. CyberSecurity will have to go global. We can't be all things to all countries. We have to fine tune, not feed the whales.
  • ctovision · 8 months ago
    Thanks much Greg, I appreciate those thoughts and agree. Those are good points, especially the ones about going global. We can't be all things to all countries, they are going to have to help dig out of this.

    Cheers,
    Bob