CRIME FW: [Infragard_unsecured] DHS Press Release

From: George Heuston (GeorgeH@private)
Date: Fri Jun 06 2003 - 15:41:21 PDT

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    -----Original Message-----
    From: InfraGard [mailto:infragard@private] 
    Sent: Friday, June 06, 2003 12:05 PM
    To: IG Unsecured; IG Secured; IG Coordinators
    Subject: [Infragard_unsecured] DHS Press Release
    
    U.S. Department of Homeland Security
    
    Ridge Creates New Division To Combat Cyber Threats
    
    For Immediate Release
    June 6, 2003
    
    WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in
    implementing
    the President's National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace and the Homeland
    Security Act of 2002, has created the National Cyber Security Division
    (NCSD) under the Department's Information Analysis and Infrastructure
    Protection Directorate. The NCSD will provide for 24 x 7 functions,
    including conducting cyberspace analysis, issuing alerts and warning,
    improving information sharing, responding to major incidents, and aiding
    in
    national-level recovery efforts. This Division represents a significant
    step
    toward advancing the Federal government's interaction and partnership
    with
    industry and other organizations in this critical area.
    
    "Cyber security cuts across all aspects of critical infrastructure
    protection. Most businesses in this country are unable to segregate the
    cyber operations from the physical aspects of their business because
    they
    operate interdependently," said Secretary Ridge. "This new division will
    be
    focused on the vitally important task of protecting the nation's cyber
    assets so that we may best protect the nation's critical infrastructure
    assets."
    
    About the National Cyber Security Division (NCSD)
    The NCSD will identify, analyze and reduce cyber threats and
    vulnerabilities; disseminate threat warning information; coordinate
    incident
    response; and provide technical assistance in continuity of operations
    and
    recovery planning.
    
    The NCSD builds upon the existing capabilities transferred to DHS from
    the
    former Critical Infrastructure Assurance Office, the National
    Infrastructure
    Protection Center, the Federal Computer Incident Response Center, and
    the
    National Communications System. The creation of the NCSD both
    strengthens
    government-wide processes for response and improves protection of
    critical
    cyber assets through maximizing and leveraging the resources of these
    previously separate offices. Robert Liscouski, the Assistant Secretary
    of
    Homeland Security for Infrastructure Protection, will oversee NCSD.
    
    With 60 employees, the Division is organized around three units designed
    to:
    
      a.. Identify risks and help reduce the vulnerabilities to government's
    cyber assets and coordinate with the private sector to identify and help
    protect America's critical cyber assets;
    
      b.. Oversee a consolidated Cyber Security Tracking, Analysis, &
    Response
    Center (CSTARC), which will detect and respond to Internet events; track
    potential threats and vulnerabilities to cyberspace; and coordinate
    cyber
    security and incident response with federal, state, local, private
    sector
    and international partners; and
    
      c.. Create, in coordination with other appropriate agencies, cyber
    security awareness and education programs and partnerships with
    consumers,
    businesses, governments, academia, and international communities.
    Consistent with law and policy, DHS's NCSD will coordinate closely with
    the
    Office of Management and Budget and National Institute of Standards and
    Technology regarding the security of Federal systems and coordinate with
    Federal law enforcement authorities, as appropriate. NCSD will leverage
    other DHS components including the Science and Technology Directorate,
    the
    U.S. Secret Service and the Department's Privacy Officer.
    
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