Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Senator Joe Lieberman will offer a legislation to systematize a White House cybersecurity adviser. He told the Chamber of Commerce during a Cyberspace Conference meeting in Washington that the post will require Senate confirmation.

Although President Obama said last May that he planned to appoint a cybersecurity coordinator without requiring Senate confirmation, the position continues to be unoccupied. On the contrary, lawmakers say that cybersecurity coordinator would report to both the National Security Council and the National Economic Council; thus, he must be subjected to Senate confirmation.

Lieberman said that the cybersecurity coordinator would manage cybersecurity activities over all federal agencies, provide tactical leadership and guidance to the president and control power and assets to make modifications as needed. The cybersecurity adviser is needed "to ensure that the classified work conducted by Department of Defense and intelligence agencies is informing the defensive actions taken by our domestic agencies."

Lieberman also stated that Congress must provide the Department of Homeland Security the necessary power and human resources to supervise the federal civilian networks to protect against malicious traffic. Although DHS already has the same authority through a presidential order, he recommended that the department could expand its personnel via legislation and gain support from other federal agencies to succeed. (To learn more about entering the Department of Homeland Security, read this information about earning your homeland security degree.)

Furthermore, Lieberman stated that DHS must identify the weaknesses in the IT systems of businesses, especially the financial, power, and transportation infrastructures, and protect them from cyber attacks. He added that DHS should also identify the most critical cyber infrastructure and ask its operators to perform risk assessments to identify existing vulnerabilities. DHS will then work with these companies to decide the best way to mitigate the vulnerabilities but will not mandate a one-size-fits all strategy to bolster security.

Lieberman also discussed his plans for DHS to establish a voluntary cybersecurity standards program to encourage businesses to comply with specific standards through a certification program and award them a seal of approval that will be placed on the company's website, similar to the standards of Good Housekeeping or Energy Seals.

Lieberman also expressed his plans to tighten federal acquisition policies to guarantee IT wares are preconfigured with security controls and grant agencies employment and salary flexibilities to attract competent IT security experts.

While Leiberman laid out his proposal to the executives of the Chamber of Commerce, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano disclosed the new 61-station National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center in northern Virginia. This center will merge the US Computer Emergency Readiness Team and the National Coordinating Center for Telecommunications. Napolitano also displayed vivid charts and maps of possible cyber threats and suspicious internet traffic. He also revealed that the watch center will allow high-tech teams to monitor government networks to work better together.

Read more about this topic:
Fighting Cyber Crime, one computer at a time - Cyber security focuses on issues such as identity theft, computer hacking and viruses, and other horrific crimes such as the use of child pornography and cyber stalking. 20 years ago there was no need for specialists in this area, because our technology simply wasn’t what it is today.

Labels: homeland.security, homeland.security.degree, homeland.security.experts, homeland.security.grants, Leiberman, Obama, us.department.of.homeland.security

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was created after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Its mission is to secure the nation from the many threats we face. DHS is primarily responsible for protecting the nation from terrorist attacks and responding to natural disasters. It makes sure that all US borders, seaports, and airways are secure. They also analyze, research, and develop innovative security technology that would help in performing their jobs during natural disasters or terrorist attacks. They also analyze intelligence reports to prevent, deter, and detect any threats to the homeland.

A career in homeland security gives an opportunity to protect and serve the country and its citizens.

Homeland security is a new career, but there is a vast employment option available. Several different agencies employ homeland security officers including the US Capitol Police, the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services, the US Secret Service, the Federal Protective Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Transportation Security Administration and Park Services. Each department offers the opportunity to work in intelligence operations, either as an undercover agent or an active duty officer. New career opportunities for security officers are created each time.

Ideally, a homeland security officer should have excellent communication skills and computer savvy to be able to deal with the latest technology. A homeland security officer should also be a reliable individual with good judgment and has the ability to stay calm during chaotic situations.

A homeland security officer is required to have a four-year college degree in criminal science, forensics, computer science, accounting, etc. He may also need to have a specialized homeland security degree, depending on the field.

As part of the application process, each agency of DHS has a different series of tests that an applicant must complete. The first part of the application process for a homeland security officer is the physical fitness portion. Thus, an applicant must be in top physical condition to effectively carry out the rigorous duties of the job. The applicant must also go through a rigorous training camp or academy, which can go from six weeks to ten months, depending on the requirements of the agency you are working for. After passing the training, the applicant must pass another final test to be permanently hired.

When hired, the new homeland security officer will be assigned in an area where he is needed most. Although he cannot choose his first assignment, his family can join him from this point onwards. Working schedule also varies. He may be asked to work on a long shift and rotating schedule during odd hours. Homeland Security Officers receive good benefits and job security.

Labels: homeland.security, homeland.security.degree, homeland.security.experts, us.department.of.homeland.security

The new-year is upon us and Homeland Security is a top priority for the U.S. Government. The Department of Homeland Security released the fiscal year 2007 grant guidance and application kits for five grant programs that will total roughly $1.7 billion in funding for state and local counterterrorism efforts. With the fiscal year 2007 funding, the department will have invested nearly $20 billion in local planning, organization, education, equipment, training, and exercises. In addition, the new Democratic-led U.S. Congress recently began work on homeland security legislation, a top priority for lawmakers. About half of the recommendations made by the bipartisan 9/11 commission to improve homeland security in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks have been signed into law.

With the ever-increasing threat of terrorist attacks and natural disasters, congress is allocating big dollars and taking preventative measures to decrease these ongoing threats. The five programs that comprise the Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) encourage a regional approach to strengthening homeland security. They emphasize interoperable communications, information sharing and citizen preparedness. HSGP fiscal year 2007 funding totals are:

* State Homeland Security Program (SHSP)- $509.3 million
* Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program (LETPP)- $363.8 million
* Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI)- $746.9 million
* Metropolitan Medical Response System (MMRS)- $32.0 million
* Citizen Corps Program (CCP)- $14.6 million

More than 100 law enforcement, emergency management and homeland security experts from federal, state and urban areas will form peer review panels to assess this year's grant applications. Upon completion of the review process, DHS expects to announce grant allocations by summer 2007.

• Employment Opportunities in Homeland Security on the Rise
• Combat Terror with a Homeland Security Career
• National Cyber "Czar", New Cybersecurity Platform

Labels: homeland.security, homeland.security.experts, homeland.security.grants, law.enforcement.officer, us.department.of.homeland.security

Yes, the title says it all - homeland security is becoming a major industry and a big business. How big? About $45 billion large. States are vying for grant money from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and taking steps to secure their share. New York, Illinois, Arizona, and Michigan are all trying to court the Government in siphoning funds into their pockets.

In Lansing, Michigan businesses and government leaders want to make Michigan as well-known for homeland security as it is for the auto industry have recently formed a consortium to tap into the fast-growing sector. "I'd say Michigan has an above-average chance to become a leader in homeland security," said Mark Mills, chairman of Washington-based ICx Technologies Inc., a government contractor focused on homeland security.

About 40 homeland security businesses, universities and economic development groups have formed the Michigan Homeland Security Consortium, The Detroit News reported Monday. The companies hope they can raise awareness of the industry, garner more contracts and help attract more jobs to the state, said Keith Brophy, chairman of the group and president of Troy-based NuSoft Solutions Inc. "We are just now putting our arms around this field and recognizing it as a vibrant and growing portion of (the) state's economy," he said.

The Michigan Economic Development Corp. recognizes the field as one of the state's potential strengths. From businesses to academia - everyone is getting into this very lucrative market. In fact students now graduating with a Homeland Security Degree are finding the job market wide open as their prospects for employment continue to grow. Its 21st Century Jobs Fund delivered $12.35 million to homeland security projects this year alone.

Labels: auto.industry, homeland.security, homeland.security.degree, lansing.michigan, michigan, online.degree, us.department.of.homeland.security