Pentagon Releases First-ever Cyberspace Strategy

The Defense Department today released its strategy for operating in cyberspace, its first unified plan that aims to address the multitude of cyber threats the nation faces on a daily basis.

“It is critical to strengthen our cyber capabilities to address the cyber threats we’re facing,” said Defense Secretary Leon Panetta…

Pentagon to Release Unclassified Cyber Strategy this Week

Deputy Defense Secretary William J Lynn, III will unveil the Pentagon’s first cybersecurity strategy in a July 14 speech at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C, according to media reports.

Because of the unclassified nature of the strategy, it won’t be greatly detailed and “follows much of what was in the administration’s cyber strategy,” which White House officials…

DoD Seeks to Amend DFARS to Include Cybersecurity Requirements for Contractors

A proposed rule published yesterday would require government contractors whose information systems contain unclassified Defense Department information to protect that information from hackers and notify DoD of any breaches, Federal Computer Weeks reports.

DoD wants to add a new clause to the Defense…

GAO: US Cyber Command Must Clarify Roles, Responsibility of Cyber Personnel

In a report issued Monday, the Government Accountability Office acknowledges that although the Defense Department and U.S. Cyber Command have made progress in identifying the roles and responsibilities of the organizations that support DoD cyberspace operations, additional detail and clarity is needed.

While the Cyber Command mostly meets joint guidance and maps out its organizational…

DHS Cyber Official Phil Reitinger Resigns

Phil Reitinger, deputy undersecretary for Department of Homeland Security’s National Protection and Programs Directorate, announced his resignation yesterday.

According to the National Journal, Reitinger will leave his post June 3.

In an email to DHS employees obtained by the National Journal, Reitinger states his reasons for leaving are personal, and he remains on good terms with…

Sotera to Participate in 2011 DoD Conference

Sotera will participate in the 2011 DoD Intelligence Information System’s Worldwide Conference. The company will send its representatives to discuss IT and cybersecurity capabilities, information sharing, cyber-intelligence , data fusion, watchlisting, mission assurance and intelligence analysis.

More than 3,000 participants will attend the conference including 400…

Top DHS Official Publishes New Document on Cyber Defense

As deputy undersecretary of Homeland Security’s National Protection and Programs Directorate, Philip Reitinger’s daily tasks call on him to protect the government’s computer systems from domestic and foreign threats.

“Unless people start to pay attention to the threat and how we need to drive fundamental change, we’re in a world that is going to get…

Lynn Honored with Eagle Award for Cybersecurity Efforts

The Pentagon’s second-in-charge was  recognized Monday as a leader in IT at an awards event held in Washington, D.C.

Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn, III accepted the “Eagle Award” during a banquet attended by roughly 1,000 participants, according to the American Forces Press Service. He reiterated a theme he has emphasized…

CyberCom Blocks Access to Streaming Video; YouTube No Go for DoD Workers

The U.S. Cyber Command has restricted Defense Department workers’ access to  streaming-video websites such as YouTube, Amazon and Googlevideo, according to The Associated Press.

Officials say the overwhelming demand to see the Japan earthquake is using up the much-needed bandwidth already weakened by Internet problems in that region of the world.

Cyber Command has directed…

DoD Works to Prevent another WikiLeaks, Insider Threat

On the heels of the WikiLeaks debacle and growing concerns about the insider threat, the Defense Department has taken steps in preventing another massive leak of its classified information, a senior official told a Senate committee last week.

After thousands of classified military documents were leaked and distributed online last summer, DoD launched an…