Released earlier this year, the National Strategy for Homeland Security is designed to protect us from terrorism in the United States on Federal, State, local and private levels. Accordingly, the President has now implemented a strategy for the protection of cyberspace, which is essential to defense and economic security, as well as critical infrastructures. The National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace, which supports both the National Strategy for Homeland Security and the National Security Strategy of the United States, promotes secure U.S. information systems and protects against malicious attacks in cyberspace.

Broken down into six levels, the strategy gives recommendations on how to assist the government on combating cyberterrorism to categories such as home user/small business to government to large corporations. This month, Level 3, government, private industry and higher education recommendations, will be highlighted.

Level 3: Government, Private Industry and Higher Education

Level 3 of The National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace is designed to encourage and empower the government, private industry and higher education to establish and maintain secure systems. The U.S. government says this goal can be realized by the government, private industry and higher education by employing the following initiatives:

• Making IT security a priority
• Revising institutional security policy and improving the use of existing tools
• Implementing government suggestions and “best practices”
• Improving security for future research and education networks
• Improving collaboration with government, private industry and higher education
• Integrating Level 3 with all other Levels of the national effort

The massive networks of the government, private industry and higher education offer both great strength and vulnerability. Because of this, the government, private industry and higher education must ensure that security is of the highest priority within their architectures, network operations and management.

The following are suggestions given by the U.S. government in regard to government, private industry and higher education cybersecurity:

• Consider establishment of a single point of contact in the event of a cyberattack
• Create an Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC) to deal with attacks
• Create guidelines for “best practices” for IT security
• Develop model use awareness programs
• Continue to foster research on security, and encourage improved security in emerging systems

Government, private industry and higher education must develop flexible IT infrastructures that encourage long-term security and growth of the nation’s economy.
The government says we all must do our part in protecting the security of our nation – from the home user to large government agencies.

Source: The National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace. United States Government.

How Cebic Technologies Inc. Can Help

Cebic Technologies Inc. provides affordable, real-time IT management for small businesses. Cebic helps to establish and maintain healthy, secure computer networks by providing computer system management, real-time diagnostics, virus/intrusion protection, emergency support and strategic IT planning.

Remote Intelligence™ is a service sold by Hybinette’s sister company, Cebic Technologies Inc. For more information on how you can protect your small business, please visit www.cebic.com or call us 303-987-3679.

Source: National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace, U.S. Government – Department of Homeland Security, September 2002.