DHS still struggling with cybersecurity.THE DEPARTMENT of Homeland Security Noun 1. Department of Homeland Security - the federal department that administers all matters relating to homeland securityHomeland Security executive department - a federal department in the executive branch of the government of the United States (DHS DHS Department of Homeland Security (USA) DHS Department of Human Services DHS Department of Health Services DHS Demographic and Health Surveys DHS Dirhams (Morocco national currency) ) has "a lot of work ahead" before it fully addresses its cybersecurity-related responsibilities, according to a recent report to Congress by the Government Accountability Office The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is the audit, evaluation, and investigative arm of the United States Congress, and thus an agency in the Legislative Branch of the United States Government. (GAO). [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The report highlights the problems that DHS faces in fulfilling its responsibilities in protecting the cyber elements of the national critical infrastructure. For example, it has not developed national threat and vulnerability assessments, and it is having continued "difficulties in developing partnerships" with other agencies, state and local governments, and the private sector. Another weakness noted by the GAO auditors is that DHS has no "government/industry contingency recovery plans for cybersecurity, including a plan for recovering key Internet functions" in the event of a major disruption. The GAO does note DHS's qualified successes. For example, its National Cyber Security Division The National Cyber Security Division (NCSD) is a division of the Office of Cyber Security & Communications, within the United States Department of Homeland Security's Directorate of National Protection and Programs. (NCSD NCSD National Cyber Security Division (US Department of Homeland Security) NCSD National Cancer Survivors Day NCSD North Carolina School for the Deaf NCSD Nye County School District (Nevada) ) is "a national focal point for addressing cybersecurity issues" that has "taken steps to develop partnerships and information-sharing mechanisms" with groups such as ISACs. Unfortunately, sharing information with the private sector is hampered by a lack of security clearances by private-sector partners and by the fear of "what information DHS would share with other federal agencies." Even worse, some partners described the erosion of the sharing process. One ISAC ISAC Illinois Student Assistance Commission ISAC Istituto di Scienze dell'Atmosfera e del Clima (Italy) ISAC International Society for Analytical Cytology ISAC Iowa State Association of Counties ISAC Information Sharing Analysis Center official noted that when his organization contacted DHS about a rumor of a dirty bomb being used at a national event, "ISAC officials were told to obtain the information from the media." The report concludes by pointing out that many of the recommendations GAO has made before--such as developing a strategic analysis and warning capability--remain undone or incomplete. A DHS official who responded to the report did not concur with most of the GAO's recommendations, stating that many initiatives to solve these problems are already underway. @ CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION Department of Defense (DOD) program to identify and protect assets critical to the Defense Transportation System. Loss of a critical asset would result in failure to support the mission of a combatant commander. : DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY FACES CHALLENGES IN FULFILLING CYBERSECURITY RESPONSIBILITIES IS AT SM ONLINE. |
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