Channeling the 'offensive mind-set' in cybersecurity

[InfoSec News <alerts () infosecnews org>]

http://www.nextgov.com/cybersecurity/cybersecurity-report/2012/11/going-cyber-offensive/59794/

By John Grady
Nextgov
November 28, 2012

To protect critical networks and national security, the House and Senate 
are weighing cyber defense legislation and the Obama administration is 
considering regulations requiring information sharing between government 
agencies and private businesses. But who should be in charge -- even 
inside the Pentagon -- remains a big question in all this dithering.

The answer depends on how you look at cybersecurity: in terms of offense 
or defense, military or law enforcement. Also, how do you look at cyber 
strategically, tactically and operationally in the Pentagon, at the 
Homeland Security Department, FBI, Federal Reserve, and in the civilian 
realm at places like JP Morgan Chase, Dominion Power and Washington Gas?

“You have to have an offensive mind-set to better focus on defense,” 
retired Marine Corps Gen. James Cartwright said during a recent 
appearance at the U.S. Naval Institute. “DoD is in the business of 
offense. [Yet] we’re still trying to protect everyone’s computer.”

Cartwright said when he was vice commander at U.S. Strategic Command in 
2004, the emphasis was on cyber, electromagnetic pulse and directed 
energy weapons rather than creating a unified cyber command, which was 
established in 2010. The thinking was clear enough. These weapons 
expanded the tools available to the president if diplomacy failed.

[...]

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