Fitting IT into homeland security

[InfoSec News <isn () c4i org>]

http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2001/1217/web-report-12-24-01.asp

By Diane Frank 
Dec. 24, 2001

The final report from the Gilmore Commission on the capabilities
needed to respond to terrorism mirrors many of the cybersecurity and
information technology recommendations to emerge since the Sept. 11
attacks.

The group -- established in 1998 as part of the Defense Authorization
Act -- released an executive summary of the report in November. The
full report, released Dec. 15, goes into much more depth about how IT
fits into the country's protection.

Technology is mentioned throughout the report as a key component in
homeland security. This includes improvements to health communication
networks so that information is shared among federal, state and local
health departments and emergency management agencies.

"We must continue to seek innovative ways to use our superior
technological capability to our advantage and to deny its use to
potential adversaries," the report states as part of its look to the
future. "Better use of technology for positive identification and for
knowledge management should be at the top of the list."

To enhance cybersecurity capabilities, the commission recommends that
representatives from all levels of government be included in the
Critical Infrastructure Protection Board. An outside source to advise
and evaluate agency programs is also necessary, according to the
commission, which recommends that Congress create another independent
commission that will report to both the president and Congress.

The report addresses wide concern about the effectiveness of the
National Infrastructure Protection Center. The NIPC is one of the
organizations that coordinates security activities, but many worry
that its placement within the FBI keeps it from sharing information.

The commission recommends that the president establish a
government-funded, non-profit entity, with representatives from all
affected public- and private-sector organizations, to provide cyber
detection, alert and warning functions.

Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore is chairman of the commission, which is also
known as the Advisory Panel to Assess Domestic Response Capabilities
for Terrorism Involving Weapons of Mass Destruction.



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