cybersecurity

Cybersecurity bill before Senate for approval

A cybersecurity bill is before the Senate for approval. The bill, if passed, would impose standards on the public and private sectors and certifications for cybersecurity professionals.

The legislation is aimed streamlining cybersecurity authorities, promoting public awareness and enhanci cybersecurity cooperation between government and industry, The bill would also increase cybersecurity education and research and development efforts.

So far as networks are concerned the bill would give the new national cybersecurity adviser the right to disconnect any network deemed critical to national security or the US infrastructure from the internet. This would only happen if the network is considered at risk for attack.

According to the article:

The senators also called for a public awareness campaign, a review of the laws that apply to cybersecurity and a report on identity management and civil liberties. They would also further involve the private sector in cybersecurity efforts through the establishment of:

* A group that would certify that products purchased by the federal government meet cybersecurity standards.
*
A panel of outside experts to advise the president on cybersecurity.
*
A public-private clearinghouse for information sharing on cyberthreats.
*
State and regional cybersecurity centers to help small and medium-sized businesses.

I suppose it had to happen sooner or later. In the past couple of months I have mentioned several cybersecurity attacks, some successful and other networks at risk, in both the private and public sectors. It is a natural progression of this county’s government to step in when business, organizations, and government branches refuse to police themselves and protect their constituents and customers from harm.

On the brighter side a whole new market is opening up for security professionals and software. This is going to happen at the collegiate level as well as in the development of new security software. If you are looking for a career or career change this is an area that you should investigate.

-j

Government scholarships for studying cybersecurity

The US Government give you a full scholarship for college if you want to become a cybersecurity specialist. The scholarship covers room and board, books and tuition.

The obvious question here is “What do I have to give them in return?” Two years of government service at a federal agency in a cybersecurity position. That’s not a whole to ask in my opinion. Think about. Your getting a paid-for education in a field whose demand is only going to grow and all you have to do is work at a federal agency for two year using what you majored in at college. Not bad.

The program, known as SFS (Scholarship for Service), is run by run jointly by the National Science Foundation and DHS. SFS is quickly becoming known for more than just recruiting talent for their scholarships:

In the information assurance community, SFS is becoming widely recognized as indispensable, especially when government demand for highly skilled information technology security professionals is surging because of Information Systems Management Act requirements, the inexorable growth in security operations centers and an impending wave of retirements.

Michelle Kwon who graduated from the program has this to say about it

“When I graduated from the SFS program, I really thought I was going to do my two years [of government service] and then jump to industry and make big bucks,” Kwon said. “But I was given opportunities through the program that I wouldn’t have had otherwise.”

Michelle is now in a high-powered position as director of the Homeland Security Department’s U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team. Last year she was named director of US-CERT.

You can read more about the program here.

If I were a student and looking for a way to go to college this would be a fantastic way to go.

-j