Homeland Security Industry

Rapid Notification – When You Really Have to Know

December 10, 2009

Last week in Portland, officials conducting routine reservoir testing found something unexpected: E. Coli. Officials reached out to the community via print, television, and radio news outlets, health networks, and their utility Web site. Unfortunately, many in the community remained unaware of the contamination until reading about it on the bottom of their TV screens during the following day’s football games. As it turns out, textbook responses don’t work as well when the textbook in question is out of date.

Harvard Business School Hosts a Cyberposium

Steven Bucci |

December 9, 2009

In November, the Harvard Business School hosted its annual Tech Conference, the “Cyberposium,” focusing on this year on the “digital storm” and addressing the cutting-edge challenges that the U.S. faces. The purpose of the event was to give its top-notch business students exposure to key issues they will face as they go out and act as leaders of American and international business.

Incentives Can Help Build Public-Private Cyber Partnership

Media Watch |

December 7, 2009

Incentives Can Help Build Public-Private Cyber Partnership – CQ Homeland Security
For years, cybersecurity experts have expounded on the need for a “public-private” partnership to protect critical infrastructure, financial institutions and other targets of attackers. But a new report from the Internet Security Alliance suggests the approach thus far has been backward: It should really be a “private-public” partnership.

NSA Official Addresses AFCEA Solutions Conference

Steven Bucci |

December 4, 2009

AFCEA International held its two-day Solutions Conference, December 2-3. The original keynote was supposed to be LTG Keith Alexander, the Director of the National Security Agency, and the nominee for a 4th star and command of the newly established U.S. Cyber Command. Instead, he sent one of his very able subordinates from the NSA, Ms. Sherri Ramsey, to address the group at the National Conference Center in Leesburg.

Dr. Dave McWhorter on Catalyst Partners' Homeland Security Technologies Assessment Practice

Security Debrief |

December 3, 2009

Security Debrief spoke with Dr. Dave McWhorter, principal of Catalyst Partners, to learn more about the new Catalyst Homeland Security Technologies Assessment practice.

DNA Sensors Getting Ready to Sniff Out Terrorist Attacks

Media Watch |

November 24, 2009

DNA Sensors Getting Ready to Sniff Out Terrorist Attacks – Homeland Security Outlook
Researchers at the MITRE Corporation are developing genetically engineered bio-sensors, and while they’re still a few years from the marketplace, these sensors promise to be even more accurate than today’s detection devices – and they’ll cost far less.

Official seeks more realistic plan for fighter jet program

Media Watch |

November 24, 2009

Official seeks more realistic plan for fighter jet program – GovernmentExecutive.com
Pentagon acquisition chief Ashton Carter said Monday he is working intensively with industry and defense officials to set more realistic cost and schedule goals for the high-stakes F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program.

Senate Judiciary Addresses Cyber Security Status

Steven Bucci |

November 21, 2009

On November 17, the Senate Judiciary Committee took up the subject of cyber security. An FBI witness said his organization considers “the cyber threat to our nation to be one of the greatest concerns of the twenty-first century.” He later said that cyber-based attacks and high tech crime were the FBI’s highest criminal priority.

ID Management and Online Transactions at the U.S. Chamber

Steven Bucci |

November 19, 2009

The U.S. Chamber held another meeting in the very helpful series of exchanges between Business and Government. The event focused on the nascent strategy for securing online transactions and was sponsored by two of the Chamber’s internal organizations: the National Security Task Force and the Telecommunication and E-Commerce Committee. The government participants were Tom Donahue and Ely Kahn, the Directors for Cyber Policy on the National Security Staff. On the Business side, besides a good presence form the Chamber itself, there were representatives from Telecoms big and small.

Cyber Personal Hygiene is Not Sexy, but It Works!

Steven Bucci |

November 18, 2009

Cyber security continues to be a hot topic. October was Cyber Security Month, and it was filled with conferences, academic discussions, and bold pronouncements by industry groups and individual firms. In my mind, we are forgetting a key element, and the one attempt to address it was lost in the noise. A consumer security software company named AVG released a white paper that focused not on their products, but rather, on personal responsibility. Perhaps the public was tired of cyber security by then, perhaps it was just not “cool” enough; I just know it was completely overlooked.

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