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Cybersecurity

Blogger Event with DHS Undersecretary Rand Beers

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March 4, 2010

The Heritage Foundation sponsored a special event for Homeland Security Related Bloggers on March 3. They invited DHS Undersecretary for National Protection and Programs, the Honorable Rand Beers, to have a candid on-the-record chat with non-traditional “news” folks. I was honored to be included. He next joked that his title (National Protection & Programs) was not always helpful, as he invariably had to explain what it was he did before he could begin to act. Basically, this man is in charge of the resilience (through prevention and mitigation) of the cyber and other critical infrastructure of our nation. It is a daunting task indeed.

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Rand Beers commits candor – and it was refreshing

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March 4, 2010

Following his testimony before the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs committee where he testified about chemical security, DHS Under Secretary Rand Beers met with national security bloggers for an “on the record” session hosted by the Heritage Foundation. It was a remarkably refreshing session – not only because Beers acknowledged the importance of reaching out to a wide range of critical thinkers (which occasionally includes bloggers), but also because he was characteristically candid. Would that other DHS officials followed his lead.

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California Issues Telework Policy to Curb Cyber-Security Risks

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March 4, 2010

California Issues Telework Policy to Curb Cyber-Security Risks – Government Technology
To bolster security and create consistency in California’s IT infrastructure, the Office of the State Chief Information Officer (OCIO) issued a new policy Tuesday, March 2, that includes telework and remote access security standards as well as a compliance form that state agencies must submit by July 1.

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U.S. to Reveal Rules on Internet Security

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March 2, 2010

U.S. to Reveal Rules on Internet Security – NY Times
The Obama administration on Tuesday plans to declassify portions of the Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative, created during the Bush administration as a secret effort to harness the nation’s defensive and offensive strategies for protecting commercial and government networks.

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Cyber Security Panel at AFCEA International HLS Conference

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March 1, 2010

The first panel of AFCEA’s Annual Homeland Security Conference had Cyber Security as a subject. That alone says something for the predominance and importance of this issue today. The discussion was a fine starting point for the event. Overall, it was a superb panel that covered a wide swath, and did it well.

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Rockefeller / Snowe Hearing: “Cyber Security – Next Steps to Protect Our Critical Infrastructure”

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February 25, 2010

The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee held a long awaited hearing on Cyber Security. Chairman John Rockefeller began with the thought that a major cyber attack could shut down our nation’s most critical infrastructure. He called for legislation to “modernize the relationship between the government and the private sector on cyber security.” A stellar group of witnesses appeared, all who added to the growing discussion on cyber security.

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Napolitano Faces Questions About Screening Technology Funding

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February 25, 2010

Napolitano Faces Questions About Screening Technology Funding – CQ Homeland Security
Both the Democratic and Republican leaders of the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee on Wednesday questioned a request for technologically advanced airport scanners in President Obama’s fiscal 2011 budget request, but for seemingly opposite reasons.

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Wild Week in the World of Cyber

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February 22, 2010

Well, the week of 15 – 19 Feb 2010 was a fascinating one if you follow cybersecurity events. The bellwether stories are numerous, and reaction to them has been varied. Even if you don’t join in the debates of the blogosphere, it sure is fun to “watch.” On the serious side, these issues are all critical ones, and the number of experts (real ones, not the self-proclaimed variety) who hold widely varying positions shows the challenge of this field.

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Bush Recess Appointee To Obama: Make Recess Appointments

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February 19, 2010

Bush Recess Appointee To Obama: Make Recess Appointments – Huffington Post
John Bolton, President Bush’s most high-profile recess appointee, urged President Obama on Friday to use similar authority to move some of his own nominees into administration jobs.

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Privacy Experts Raise Concerns over Smart-Grid Technology

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February 17, 2010

Privacy Experts Raise Concerns over Smart-Grid Technology – Give Me Back My Credit Blog
Given the myriad of problems facing the United States right now, you can be forgiven for not worrying about what information your water heater is sending to the US government. The fact of the matter is, right now, it is not sending the government any information. But the Obama administration wants to change that. In fact, it wants to know just about everything you are doing with major appliances in your home on a real time basis.

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