[Infowarrior] - Pentagon to boost cybersecurity force

[Richard Forno]

Pentagon to boost cybersecurity force

By Ellen Nakashima

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/2013/01/19/d87d9dc2-5fec-11e2-b05a-605528f6b712_print.html

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The Pentagon has approved a major expansion of its cybersecurity force over the next several years, more than quadrupling its size to bolster the nation’s ability to defend critical computer systems and conduct offensive computer operations against foreign adversaries, according to U.S. officials.

The move, requested by the head of the Defense Department’s Cyber Command, is part of an effort to build an organization that until now has focused largely on defensive measures into the equivalent of an Internet-era fighting force. The command, made up of about 900 personnel, will expand to include 4,900 troops and civilians.

Details of the plan have not been finalized, but the decision to expand the Cyber Command was made by senior Pentagon officials late last year in recognition of a growing threat in cyberspace, said officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the expansion has not been formally announced. The gravity of that threat, they said, has been highlighted by a string of sabotage attacks, including one in which a virus was used to wipe data from more than 30,000 computers at a Saudi Arabian state oil company last summer.

The plan calls for the creation of three types of forces under the Cyber Command: “national mission forces” to protect computer systems that undergird electrical grids, power plants and other infrastructure deemed critical to national and economic security; “combat mission forces” to help commanders abroad plan and execute attacks or other offensive operations, and “cyber protection forces” to harden the Defense Department’s networks.

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The “combat mission” teams may help commanders in operations that include a cyber component say, to disable an enemy’s command and control system before a conventional attack. Each region will have teams that focus on particular threats — say, from China or Iran.

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With the decision to expand the Cyber Command, Alexander, who has been asked to stay on for another year until summer 2014, is seeing some — but not all — of his vision fulfilled. He has sought independent budget authority for the Cyber Command to hire and control forces similar to the way Special Operations Command can. So far, he has not won that authority, though officials agreed to give him the additional forces. He also has the support of senior Pentagon officials to elevate the Cyber Command to full command status, out from under the aegis of Strategic Command. But that move, which requires consulting with Congress, is not taking place just yet, officials say.



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