Lolita C. Baldor
Pentagon cyber command to create force for future
WASHINGTON — The U.S. military is developing plans for a new cyber command at a Maryland Army facility to coordinate digital warfare, but difficult challenges lie ahead as federal agencies try to work with industry to protect critical computer networks nationwide, military officials said Tuesday.
Lt. Gen. Keith Alexander, director of the National Security Agency, said the U.S. is determined to lead the global effort to use computer technology to deter or defeat enemies, while still protecting the public’s constitutional rights.
Alexander acknowledged that even as the military secures its networks, it is more likely that any major cyber attack would target industry such as the electrical grid rather than the Pentagon. Responding to such an attack, he said, would require broad coordination between the public and private sectors.
Speaking to the House Armed Services terrorism subcommittee, Alexander and other military leaders in cyber matters said the military is still struggling to keep up with rapidly changing technologies and to meet the services’ needs for more resources and training. In blunt comments, Alexander acknowledged that cyber training for the Pentagon’s work force is inadequate and must be improved.
Lt. Gen. William Shelton, the Air Force’s chief of warfighting integration, said the Pentagon relies heavily on industry efforts to respond to cyber threats. That approach, he said, does not keep pace with the threat.
The hearing comes as the Obama administration prepares to release its review of the nation’s cybersecurity, and on the heels of a critical report by the National Research Council. The independent group’s report concluded that the government’s policies on how and when to wage cyber warfare are ill-formed, lack adequate oversight and require a broad public debate.
Alexander, the Pentagon’s leading cyber warfare commander, said that the White House review will help establish guidelines for how the federal government, including its military and intelligence agencies, will share information on cyber threats with industry — ranging from banks to utilities.
Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., the subcommittee’s chairman, pressed the defense leaders for details on how federal agencies will work together and work with the corporate world to shore up vulnerabilities in the digital systems. “You’re only as strong as your weakest link into the network,” said Smith.
Alexander said that officials are working on the legal and practical hurdles, but he said that all the questions have not yet been answered. He added that, under the Pentagon proposal, the new cyber command would be located at Fort Meade, Md., and would be a sub-unit of U.S. Strategic Command. It would be designed to defend vital networks and project power in cyberspace.
Defense Department networks are probed repeatedly every day and the number of intrusion attempts have more than doubled recently, officials have said.
In a report released Tuesday, the Government Accountability Office said the number of cyber threats or incidents reported by federal agencies ballooned from about 5,500 in 2006 to more then 16,800 last year.
The incidents, which were reported to the U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team, mostly involved unauthorized access to the system, violations of computer use policies or investigations into unconfirmed incidents that were potentially harmful. But US-CERT noted that 14 percent of the incidents involved malicious computer codes, 12 percent were scans, probes or attempts to access the system, and 1 percent were successful attacks that impaired the network or system.
The GAO report repeated what has become a federal mantra: The cyber threats to U.S. computer systems are growing and becoming more sophisticated, and range from criminals trying to steal data to hackers looking for mischief and terrorists hoping to steal or destroy information or networks.
Military leaders said earlier this month that the Pentagon spent more than $100 million in the past six months responding to and repairing damage from cyber attacks and other computer network problems.
On the Net:
Defense Department: www.defenselink.mil
Related News
Feds give Homeland Security OK to retain up to 1,000 new cyber security expertsOctober 1st, 2009 Homeland Security to hire cyber expertsWASHINGTON — The Obama administration has given a green light to the Department of Homeland Security to hire up to 1,000 new cyber experts over the next three years, the first major personnel move to fulfill its vow to bolster security of the nation's computer networks. The announcement follows a wave of cyber attacks on federal agencies, including a July assault that knocked government Web sites off the Internet and earlier intrusions into the country's electrical grid.
Army training command gets new chiefSeptember 30th, 2009 SHIMLA - Lt General A.S. Lamba Thursday assumed charge of the Army Training Command (ARTRAC), which is based in this Himachal Pradesh capital, an official statement said.
Cyber security agency ties up with British firmJune 23rd, 2009 NEW DELHI - The government agency in charge of cyber security Tuesday signed an agreement with British IT and communication solutions provider BT for enhancing computer security and technology sharing. "This MoU (memorandum of understanding) will help in capacity development, particularly in training our manpower for implementing the best security practices," said Gulshan Rai, director of the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In).
Gates approves Pentagon's creation of new cyber command, asks for plans by fallJune 23rd, 2009 Gates approves creation of new cyber commandWASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Robert Gates formally ordered the creation Tuesday of a new military cyber command that will coordinate the Pentagon's efforts to defend its networks and conduct cyberwarfare. A three-page memo signed by Gates orders U.S.
Three rebel commanders killed in the PhilippinesJune 20th, 2009 COTABATO - Security forces in the Philippines killed three Muslim rebel commanders and four rebels as violence continued in the restive south, the army said Saturday. The three commanders, Tolni Salik, Musilan Camin and Asansari Ali, all sub-commanders of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)'s 105th Base Command, were killed Friday night in a clash with government security forces in the township of Guindulungan, about 960 km south of Manila, said Lt.
Citing Mumbai, Obama creates top job for cyber security (Lead)May 30th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Citing the use of GPS and internet phones in the Mumbai terror attack as "the future face of war", President Barack Obama has created a cyber security czar to secure America's digital infrastructure. "Our technological advantage is a key to America's military dominance.
Obama launches cyberspace security planMay 30th, 2009 WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama Friday declared the country's digital infrastructure a "strategic national asset" whose protection needs to be overseen from within the White House. Referring to a series of brazen crimes ranging from attacks on thousands of US military computers to the theft of an estimated $1 trillion in intellectual property, Obama announced the creation of a new position for a cyber-security czar who would
coordinate a disparate government bureaucracy.
Obama's Day: Obama to address cyber security, attend FEMA hurricane preparedness meetingMay 29th, 2009 Cyber security, FEMA meeting on Obama's agendaWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is to address a 21st century defense threat — protecting the nation against a cyber attack. Obama is scheduled to deliver remarks Friday morning on how the government plans to better secure the nation's computer infrastructure.
US replaces top general in Afghanistan as war worsens; Gates says new leadership needed thereMay 11th, 2009 US replaces general in Afghanistan as war worsensWASHINGTON — The Pentagon replaced its top general in Afghanistan Monday as President Barack Obama tries to turn around a stalemated war. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he asked for the resignation of Gen.
Pentagon says more money, people needed to defend and wage cyber warfareMay 9th, 2009 Pentagon girds for cyber warfareWASHINGTON — Cyber espionage and attacks from well-funded nations or terror groups are the biggest threats to the military's computer networks, a top officer said Thursday. Air Force Gen.
Pentagon says more money, people needed to defend and wage cyber warfareMay 9th, 2009 Pentagon wants to beef up for cyber warfareWASHINGTON — Cyber espionage and attacks from well-funded nations or terror groups are the biggest threats to the military's computer networks, a top officer said Thursday. Air Force Gen.
Military commanders lay out plans for cyber command, say more resources, training neededMay 6th, 2009 Pentagon to create force for digital warfareWASHINGTON — The U.S. military must reorganize its cyber operations and will use a new command at a Maryland Army facility to create a force for digital warfare, the director of the National Security Agency said Tuesday.
Obama Administration seeks wartime authority for military commanders in dealing with PakMay 2nd, 2009 WASHINGTON -The Obama administration is pushing for a new proposal which would give the US Central Command (CENTCOM) a wartime authority to deal with Pakistan. The new proposal, if accepted by the US Congress, would give the military commanders the same total authority that they enjoy in Iraq and Afghanistan's war zones.
Audit: US price tag soars as key Iraqi military training stumblesApril 28th, 2009 US audit: Costs soar for Iraqi military trainingBAGHDAD — Iraq is falling fall far behind schedule in creating a system to maintain its own military equipment, costing American taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars to fill in the gaps, according to a new U.S. audit. The report highlights some of the fundamental worries among American commanders as they look past the U.S.
Sources say Pentagon planning special command to focus on protecting against cyber attacksApril 22nd, 2009 Sources: Pentagon planning new cyber commandWASHINGTON — The Pentagon is planning to create a new military command to focus on cyberspace and protect its computer networks from cyber attacks, U.S. officials said Wednesday.
Loading ...