National Cyber Security Center
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The National Cyber Security Center (NCSC) is an office within the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) created in March of 2008, and is based on the requirements of National Security Presidential Directive 54/Homeland Security Presidential Directive 23 (NSPD-54/HSPD-23), reporting directly to DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano. [1] The NCSC is tasked with protecting the U.S. Government’s communications networks. The Center will monitor, collect and share information on systems belonging to NSA, FBI, DoD, and DHS.
The first Director appointed to head the Center was Rod Beckstrom, a successful entrepreneur and co-author of The Starfish and the Spider. On March 5, 2009, Beckstrom tendered his resignation as the Director of National Cybersecurity Center. According to the Washington Post, Beckstrom resigned, "...due to a lack of resources and because there were efforts underway to fold his group -- as well as the division Reitinger is joining -- into a facility at the NSA." On March 11, 2009, Phil Reitinger, then at Microsoft, was appointed to the position.
The U.S. Government is under ever increasing cyber attacks. The NCSC is reaching out to industry to acquire a collaboration tool that will help the various centers coordinate with each other. The NCSC has contracted with WiiKno Inc. to design, and build a Web 2.0 solutions to facilitate the collaboration between Cyber Centers.
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[edit] Cyber Security Czar
Phil Reitinger, a Microsoft C-level executive, has been appointed to this position. The position reports to Secretary Napolitano. Senate confirmation is not required. (This is not the same as the White House cyber security coordinator position announced by President Obama, which has not yet been filled.)
[edit] Mission - A National Security Priority
The NCSC has not officially published their mission; however, the Center’s priority is to protect the US Government’s computer and communication systems from domestic and foreign threats. The federal government has designated this as a National Security Priority, one of our highest national priorities.
[edit] US President's Cyber Security Policy Review - June 2009
The White House published a Cyber Security Policy Review [2], however the NCSC is not explicitly mentioned in that document.
