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Cyber Coordinators and the Cyber Command
Following up from yesterday’s report, key Senate cyber staffer Sameer Bhalotra’s name continues to be tossed around as White House Cybersecurity Coordinator Howard Schmidt’s potential deputy coordinator.
Wired’s “Danger Room” features a story on the military’s new U.S. Cyber Command (“CYBERCOM”), stating that after years of planning for the operation, there is “nothing new.” On the defense, Baltimore Business Journal is reporting that the new Command would bring nearly 1,000 jobs to the military’s cyber headquarters at Ft. Meade.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen said he is “particularly concerned about cyberspace.” Addressing the US Air Force Academy’s graduating class of 2010 in a commencement speech, Mullen noted that cyberspace, threats and attacks “will change how we fight.”
Clinton Comments and Hackers Attack
Making Cybersecurity News this morning, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton comments on Obama’s National Security Strategy, highlighting “the new and complicated threats that underscore and drive much of the interaction between powers in the world today: terrorism, proliferation, climate change, cybersecurity, energy security and many other forces at work in our world.”
CNET is reporting that Media Temple, a company that hosts websites for Adobe, ABC, Sony, NBC, Time, Volkswagen and Starbucks, fell victim to an online attack. Meanwhile, cyber criminals take $100K from a Salt Lake City credit union. And House Reps. Watson and Langevin call for a National Office for Cyberspace…
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“National Security Strategy”
“National Security Strategy” were the buzz words of the day, as the Obama administration rolled out its 52-page approach to protecting the nation’s critical infrastructure. The White House document states: “Effectively protecting cyberspace requires strong vision and leadership and will require changes in policy, technology, education and perhaps law.”
The full-text White House plan can be viewed here (PDF).
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Intelligence Committee Staffer to the White House
Howard Schmidt, White House Cybersecurity Coordinator, is expected to announce the appointment of Sameer Bhalotra to White House Deputy Cybersecurity Coordinator, NextGov reports.
Bhalotra, a key cyber staffer on the Senate Intelligence Committee and former member of the Commission on the Cybersecurity for the 44th Presidency, has managed the cyber budget for several years , gaining support from both Democrats and Republicans.
The Pentagon and the Private Sector
Making Cybersecurity News this morning, the Associated Press is reporting that a top Pentagon official yesterday proposed a program to extend a government computer security system to private sector businesses. Meanwhile, the New York Times says President Obama is offering up his first formal National Security Strategy, including a look into cyber threats. Additional morning news follows…
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Industry Pushes Obama for Cyber Policy
Nearly one year ago today, the White House published its Cyberspace Policy Review, a campaign to evaluation the nation’s cybersecurity policies and defense. There is much work left to be done, and now the Obama administration is coming under increasing pressure by industry professionals to implement a cybersecurity plan.
Obama urged to fast-track cybersecurity policy (UPI)
Obama plan for cyber policy still taking shape (Federal Times)
On Cybersecurity
“Protecting this infrastructure will be a national security priority. We will ensure that these networks are secure, trustworthy and resilient. We will deter, prevent, detect and defend against attacks and recover quickly from any disruptions or damage.”
–President Barack Obama, May 2009
Cybersecurity News 