US Cybersecurity Chief Beckstrom Resigns

nodialtone writes with a Reuters report that Rod Beckstrom, director of the National Cybersecurity Center (NCSC), has tendered his resignation, citing clashes between the NCSC and the NSA with regard to who handles the nation's online security efforts. In his resignation letter (PDF), he made the point that "The intelligence culture is very different than a network operations or security culture," and said he wasn't willing to "subjugate the NCSC underneath the NSA." He also complained of budget roadblocks which kept the NCSC from receiving more than five weeks of funding in the past year. Wired has a related story from late February which discusses comments from Admiral Dennis Blair, director of National Intelligence, who thinks cyber security should be the NSA's job to begin with.

Comments

another decent man leaves government in disgust

[jmcvetta]

From Mr Beckstrom's resignation letter: "In addition, the threats to our democratic processes are significant if all top level government network security and monitoring are handled by any one organization (either directly or indirectly."

Amen, brother.

Re:another decent man leaves government in disgust

[lseltzer]

They didn't think up checks and balances, they just implemented Montesquieu's theories in a more thorough and novel way than had been done. And it wasn't Carpenter's Hall, it was Independence Hall, then I think still called the Pennsylvania State House.

Sorry. Cyberspace is way more complicated -

[unity100]

than you military oldtimers can ever comprehend. cyberspace also doesnt go well with the military mindset. military mindset requires control over the venues that needs securing. cyberspace, internet, is a venue that refuses control. because it is against its nature. even if you try and succeed in getting an iron stranglehold over internet in your country, the rest of the world will keep a free internet. which will mean that your security issues will continue. because, internet IS people. its not an empty network with consoles attached. its no different than your own society with its people.

you should leave cybersecurity to people who understand online world and its people. you cant accomplish shit with military mindset. even more, heavy handed or controlling approaches lead to social online backlashes and spontaneous actions. portray yourselves as anti freedom fascists trying to control internet in a 1950s manner for any reason, and you may gain the attention of a varying multitude of people from hacking crowd, each of which could undermine whatever budget you can throw at security. portray yourselves as a friend of the people, and they harrass your enemies. (a la pirate bay case).

remember - internet is an infinite chaotic space in which individuals can outdo thousands. best security approach is to be 'friend of the people'. and no military knows shit about that.

so, NSA, leave it to people who know internet.