[Infowarrior] - WH Fact Sheet: Cyberspace Policy Review

[Richard Forno]

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2009/05/president_annou.html

FACT SHEET
Cyberspace Policy Review: Assuring a Trusted and Resilient Information  
and Communications Infrastructure

In February 2009, President Obama directed the National Security  
Council (NSC) and Homeland Security Council to conduct a 60-day review  
of the plans, programs, and activities underway throughout government  
that address our communications and information infrastructure (i.e.,  
“cyberspace”), in order to develop a strategic framework to ensure  
that the U.S. government’s initiatives in this area are appropriately  
integrated, resourced, and coordinated.

Threats to the information and communications infrastructure pose one  
of the most serious economic and national security challenges of the  
21st Century for the United States and our allies. In this  
environment, the status quo is no longer acceptable, and a national  
dialogue on cybersecurity must begin today. The U.S. Government cannot  
succeed in securing cyberspace in isolation, but it also cannot  
entirely delegate or abrogate its role in securing the Nation from a  
cyber incident or accident. Ensuring that cyberspace is sufficiently  
resilient and trustworthy to support U.S. goals of economic growth,  
civil liberties and privacy protections, national security, and the  
continued advancement of global democratic institutions requires  
working with individuals, academia, industry, and governments. We must  
make cybersecurity a national priority and lead from the White House.

The review team’s report to the President contains five main chapters,  
outlined below, and includes a near-term action plan for U.S.  
Government activities to strengthen cybersecurity.

(U) Chapter I: Leading from the Top – Makes the case for strengthening  
cybersecurity leadership for the United States through 1) the  
establishment of a Presidential cybersecurity policy official and  
supporting structures, 2) reviewing laws and policies, and 3)  
strengthening cybersecurity leadership and accountability at federal,  
state, local, and tribal levels.
(U) Chapter II: Building Capacity for a Digital Nation – Advocates a  
national dialogue on cybersecurity to increase public awareness of the  
threats and risks and how to reduce them. Outlines the need for  
increased education efforts at all levels to ensure a technologically  
advanced workforce in cybersecurity and related areas, similar to the  
United States’ focus on mathematics and science education in the  
1960s. Identifies the need to expand and improve the federal  
information technology workforce and for the Federal government to  
facilitate programs and information sharing on cybersecurity threats,  
vulnerabilities, and effective practices across all levels of  
government and industry.
(U) Chapter III: Sharing Responsibility for Cybersecurity – Discusses  
the need for improving and expanding partnerships between the Federal  
government and both the private sector and key U.S. allies.
(U) Chapter IV: Creating Effective Information Sharing and Incident  
Response – The United States needs a comprehensive framework to  
facilitate coordinated responses by government, the private sector,  
and allies to a significant cyber incident. This chapter explores  
elements of such a framework and suggests enhancements to information  
sharing mechanisms to improve incident response capabilities.
(U) Chapter V: Encouraging Innovation – The chapter addresses ways for  
the United States to harness the benefits of innovation to address  
cybersecurity concerns, including work with the private sector to  
define performance and security objectives for future infrastructure,  
linking research and development to infrastructure development and  
expanding coordination of government, industry, and academic research  
efforts. It also addresses supply chain security and national  
security / emergency preparedness telecommunications efforts.


Expected attendees at today’s East Room event:

Secretary Steven Chu, Department of Energy
Secretary Janet Napolitano, Department of Homeland Security
General James Jones, National Security Advisor
Deputy Secretary William Lynn, Department of Defense
Deputy Secretary Neal Wolin, Department of Treasury
Lawrence Summers, Director of the National Economic Council
Lynne Osmus, Acting Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration
Jon Wellinghoff, Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Michael Copps, Acting Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission
Jon Leibowitz, Chair of the Federal Trade Commission
James Cartwright, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Robert Mueller, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
John P. Holdren, Director of the Office of Science and Technology
John Kimmons, Lieutenant-general, Director of National Intelligence  
Office
John O. Brennan, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and  
Counterterrorism
Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, Chair of National Governors  
Association, Homeland Security Committee
Congressman Bart Gordon
Congressman Peter King
William Pelgrin, Chair of the Multi-State Information Sharing and  
Analysis Center
Heather Hogsett, National Governors Association, Director, Public  
Safety and Homeland Security Office of Federal Relations