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Homeland Security Adds Cybersecurity Position

Posted by Zonk on from the sounds-futuristic dept.

Matimus writes "Information Week has a story about the new Cybersecurity position in the Department of Homeland Security. They have stated IT management is one of their six major concerns." From the article: "Homeland Security's decision to create an assistant secretary for cybersecurity and telecommunications is expected to be well received by Congress and IT advocates calling for better use of technology in securing the country's physical and virtual borders. In May, the House of Representatives passed a $34 billion budget for Homeland Security that called for elevating the nation's head cybersecurity official to assistant secretary status."

18 of 153 comments (clear)

  1. Technical or Political? by lecithin · · Score: 4, Insightful

    What are the qualifications?

    Will this be any type of technical position, or will it be political?

    --
    It could be worse, it could be Monday.
    1. Re:Technical or Political? by sleeper0 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      ??? You have to ask that? This is a political appointment, no position that high up or even several levels below would ever be considered technical.

    2. Re:Technical or Political? by adamplas · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I imagine it would be a bit of both. However, as politics and technology never seem to work well together, it would end up being the appointee's job to explain technical issues such as virus protection or cyber-attacks to those who have the power and money. I'd have to lean towards mostly political, and I think most IT workers would agree - just think of trying to convince a manager that a new firewall or server is needed. So, technical in the nature of keeping up on the current technology, but political in trying to convince lawmakers that the new technology is needed.

    3. Re:Technical or Political? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Seeing how a spyware company executive is appointed to the Department of Homeland Security's privacy advisory board, I think you can guess the answer.

    4. Re:Technical or Political? by hoggoth · · Score: 4, Insightful

      > It will take a generation or 2 before there will be people in the governement that understand IT.

      There will NEVER be people in government that understand IT. The mindsets are mutually exclusive.

      One deals with hard facts which, when ignored, cause problems.

      The other deals with sound bites that appeal to emotions; facts are irrelevant.

      It has always been this way, and it always will... because in order to rise in politics you must win the approval of masses of people who don't understand the issues you are discussing, and you must currie favors with others in power and marginalize your opponents (whether or not they are "right" about any particular issue).

      --
      - For the complete works of Shakespeare: cat /dev/random (may take some time)
    5. Re:Technical or Political? by Golias · · Score: 4, Funny

      There will NEVER be people in government that understand IT. The mindsets are mutually exclusive.

      What the hell are you talking about? The creator of the Internet served for eight years as Vice President!

      --

      Information wants to be anthropomorphized.

  2. Isolationist? by JossiRossi · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Somehow I feel that the US government will not be happy until we have "secured our borders" until the government is entirely isolated.

    Not the country mind you, just the government. I often seem to feel that the US government would be ALOT happier without citizens to get in the way too.

    --
    Just a boy doing unproffesional IT work that's way above his head.
    1. Re:Isolationist? by Kainaw · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I often seem to feel that the US government would be ALOT happier without citizens to get in the way too.

      And what business is different? I worked at Burger King and everyone complained that it would be so much easier without the customers. I worked at AMC theater and everyone complained that it would be so much easier without the patrons. I worked for a film company and everyone complained that it would be so much easier if they didn't have to distribute and show the movies. I taught at a university and everyone complained that it would be so much easier without the students. I'm now doing research at a hospital and everyone complains that it would be so much easier without all the patients. Why wouldn't the government find it easier without all the bothersome citizens?

      --
      The previous comment is purposely vague and generalized, but all of the facts are completely true.
  3. Difficulty filling position by coflow · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I wonder how they plan to compete with commercial interests that are willing to pay top dollar for individuals suitable to the task. I can't imagine DHS would pay what a Bank of America or Walmart would .

  4. Well... by Nick+Driver · · Score: 4, Funny

    Technically, it will be political, of course!

  5. Round 2 by esmokey · · Score: 3, Funny
    "That person also will be called upon to gather critical-infrastructure threat information and lead the national response to cyber and telecommunications attacks."

    They're trying to break up Microsoft again?!

  6. Honestly... . by guildsolutions · · Score: 5, Insightful

    We would never in a million years read private, innocent citizens emails. Why on earth would you think we would even want to?

    Oh Btw, your under arrest for sharing Peter Pan on Kaaza

  7. Great Firewall of USA ?!?!? by morcego · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Securing the virtual border ?
    I'm not sure about you, but that smells like they are planning to firewall USA ?
    Whats next ? Content filtering ?

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    morcego
  8. This actually is a BIG DEAL... by nweaver · · Score: 4, Informative

    The previous cybersecurity position in the DHS (where the directors had the job expectation of a Drummer in Spinal Tap) was several rungs lower on the totem pole.

    Making it an assistant secretary position is a big increase in authority, which should (hopefully) translate into some significant action.

    --
    Test your net with Netalyzr
  9. Virtual borders? What about real interests? by joelsanda · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "Homeland Security's decision to create an assistant secretary for cybersecurity and telecommunications is expected to be well received by Congress and IT advocates calling for better use of technology in securing the country's physical and virtual borders.

    Why do people insist on seeing borders on the Internet? The word itself is composed of "inter" and "network". By applying the metaphor of "border" (either physical or (duck ... incoming cliche) "virtual") they're in essence calling the "internet" an "innerlan".

    I hope the DHS can move beyond that limited and sophmoric understanding and instead realize we have interests - not borders. There are no borders on the Internet (excusing the valiant if not wrong efforts of the Chineses).

    What if DHS instead focused on our interests: a secure platform for business and government and an accessible platform for communication? What they do afterwards is debatable from now until way past the end of time, but I think their metaphors are so misguided they jeopardize later efforts.

    In focusing on the concept of 'borders' on the Internet the leave the chute with shaky reasoning and risk all the problems always associated with a poor meta-understanding of their goals.

    --
    The Luddites were ahead of their time.
  10. They definitely need the help by IO+ERROR · · Score: 3, Interesting

    They can't even keep their own web site running!

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    How am I supposed to fit a pithy, relevant quote into 120 characters?
  11. Cyberfoo by GileadGreene · · Score: 3, Informative
    Can I just mention that I think the term "Cybersecurity" is stupid. Really, really stupid. really, really, really stupid. Actually, that goes for all the other Cyber- stuff that seems to pervade the internet these days too.

    "Cyber" is derived from the Greek word for "pilot", or "controller". Norbert Wiener introduced the term into English when he started talking about "Cybernetics" - which was his term for complex feedback control systems (Cyber. Control systems. Kinda makes sense, huh?). How we morphed from Wiener's original usage to the current fad for prefixing "Cyber" onto some random word in order to make it seem computer-related (not even control-related!) is beyond me. Although I'm sure William Gibson deserves a pretty large portion of the blame.

  12. Respect? by phorm · · Score: 3, Interesting

    If you did hire someone, would you only respect them if they did something other than what you asked them to do? See, because then they wouldn't be a puppet, right

    Depends on presentation. If said person showed me I was doing something wrong, and offered a better way I'd be happy. Their job is more efficient, mine is easier... works great. The difference is in agenda. The current agenda of the government often seems contrary to the needs or well-being of its citizens, but the purpose of the government is to meet the needs of said citizens. Thus, when government creates a position which under the mystique works against the citizens, it is working against the purposet of the position.

    It is the fact that the government itself is corrupt to the point where they directly oppose the purpose of their own creation that puppets origate.