New National Infrastructure Protection Plan Released

A new version of the National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP) was released yesterday.

I’ve extracted and attached the full Table of Contents (4 pages) and the Executive Summary (6 pages) as separate documents. Both are worth reading, if only to identify the parts of the full document you may want to read more closely. For a super-compact summary, I’ve included a short excerpt from the Preface, and a list of the major sections of the document in this post.

Overview of Napolitano’s Action Directives

In her first 10 days in office, new Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has issued 12 “action directives” focused on specific homeland security areas. Here’s an overview of all the action directives, including their purpose and a brief look at what they may indicate for Homeland Security policy in the Obama administration.

Expect changes in U.S. approach to cybersecurity

The U.S. approach to cybersecurity is likely to change significantly under the Obama administration, although it’s not clear yet exactly what priorities will be sacrificed to make room for the increased focus, or how the changes will all play out. But there’s agreement about our vulnerability from the front-line stakeholders through Congress and the White House, so expect some major changes in both leadership and policy. Increases in funding should also be expected, though whether funding comes as new expenditures or shifting of funding from other areas remains to be seen.

Report offers warning and recommendations on cybersecurity

The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a Washington-based think tank that specializes in national security issues, on December 8th released a year-long study of how the Obama administration can fight threats to the security of the nation’s computer systems — private as well as public.

Event: House Homeland Security Committee roundtables on privacy, civil rights, & civil liberties at DHS

When:  Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008
Where: 311 Cannon House Office Building, Washington D.C.
Time:  9:00 am – 4:00 pm

On Wednesday, December 3rd, the Majority Staff of the House Committee on Homeland Security will host a series of roundtable discussions on the future of privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties at DHS.  The event, entitled “A Path Forward: [...]

State laws enforce data privacy

From the Wall Street Journal:
Nevada is the first of several states adopting new laws that will force businesses — from hair stylists to hospitals — to revamp the way they protect customer data.  Massachusetts has already passed a similar law which goes into effect January 1st, and Michigan and Washington State are both considering similar [...]

DHS cybersecurity proposals more modest than DNI comments suggested

From HS Daily Wire:
Earlier this year Director of U.S. National Intelligence Mike McConnell said the government would require broad powers to monitor all Internet traffic in order to secure the U.S. critical information infrastructure; DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff outlines a more modest approach.
Earlier this year, Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell told the New Yorker [...]

House Homeland Security chair faults DHS for unfinished scenarios

From HSToday:
In a letter to DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff on Oct 9., Congressman Bennie Thompson, chair of the House Homeland Security Committee, charged that DHS has failed to draft national planning scenarios for specific threats as ordered in a presidential directive nearly five years ago.
The letter states that Homeland Security Presidential Directive 8 ordered DHS [...]

Chertoff urges caution on potential of new cybersecurity laws

Possibly in response to recent calls for changes and an upcoming report, Michael Chertoff urged Wednesday for policymakers and Congress to “proceed in a measured way” as they consider passing new laws or granting new authorities aimed at improving cybersecurity.

Full article

Cyber caucus aims for consistent oversight of cyber related issues

From the Activity On the Hill column in the Infragard National Members Alliance Newsletter:
A Cyber Caucus was established by Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI 2nd) & Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX 10th) to pull together all of the various committees that have some type of oversight related to information security or technology. The goal is to make [...]