Bush Orders Intelligence Cyber Security Monitoring Of Federal Agencies

Concerned about cyber security threats to our national security, President Bush has signed (on January 8, 2008) a classified executive order (the "National Security Presidential Directive 54/Homeland Security Presidential Directive 23") directing the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA), Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) Cyber Division to monitor the computer networks of all federal agencies.

The task force will be coordinated by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI).  Under the auspices of the ODNI, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will coordinate protection efforts for the cyber security of the computer networks for all federal agencies.  The Pentagon will be in charge of coordinating strategic defensive and offensive responses to cyber attacks.

Although this order attempts to centralize the federal efforts to protect our federal agencies from cyber security threats both foreign and domestic, it falls short on one key element.  That element is the inclusion of the public sector industries that are part of our national critical infrastructure such as energy companies, telecommunications providers, and health care organizations such as hospitals, etc.  Failure to include the money and resources for these industries to better protect their critical information networks and assets is detrimental to our national security posture. 

I'm in agreement we need to protect federal agencies from cyber security threats.  However the Federal government must do more than pay lip service to private sector and provide some real economic incentives, technology transfers, research, and coordination efforts with private sector to protect industries critical to our national infrastructure and security.

 

Washington Post
Bush Order Expands Network Monitoring