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17/11/2016 | US - With one party in control, hopes rise for new cyber initiatives, increased funding

Steve Bittenbender

Come Jan. 20, 2017, the United States may be in a better position to fight the battle against cyber threats.

 

It’s not necessarily because the country voted Donald Trump to become its next president. Rather, it’s the fact that one party will control both the White House and Congress. That’s according to executives with Telos, an information technology security company that assesses vulnerabilities and defends some of the most attacked networks around the world.

For most of the Obama Administration, the budget process with the Republican-led Congress has been contentious. Often times, Congress has needed to pass continuing resolutions to keep the government operational. In an interview with GSN, John Wood, CEO and chairman of Telos Corp., said such an environment makes it “virtually impossible” for new programs to start.

And while cybersecurity isn’t necessarily a new issue, it has become a more prominent one in recent years as a number of companies and government agencies have had their servers breached. Cyber threats can even pose serious physical dangers if the attacks succeed in shutting down systems that manage key infrastructure or even someone’s personal vehicle.

That’s why Wood sees an opportunity for additional cybersecurity funding in the coming months as Trump and the Republican Congress will work to determine future budgets. It’s in those talks where new initiatives – and the money set aside for them – can be developed.

“I’m choosing to look at it as an opportunity for the government to put its money where its mouth is,” said Wood, who testified before a House Science, Space and Technology subcommittee in January on what federal leaders can learn about cybersecurity from the private sector.

As more emphasis is placed on cybersecurity, the spending gap between it and physical defense is quite substantial. While the Department of Defense spent just under $600 billion in Fiscal Year 2016, the amount allocated for protecting the country’s IT infrastructure was around $14 billion. That means for every $1 spent on cyber defense, the country spent just less than $43 on physical defense.

While campaigning last month, Trump likened cyberattacks to the way organized crime mobs worked many years ago. The Mafia, he said, worked its way into becoming a nationwide organization that infiltrated various sectors, including public agencies, for years.

“The scope of our cybersecurity problem is enormous,” he said. “Our government, our businesses, our trade secrets, and our citizens’ most sensitive information are all facing constant cyberattacks.”

In addition to building a stronger cyberdefense, Trump also spoke out about waging counterattacks against intruders.

“This is the warfare of the future, America’s dominance in this arena must be unquestioned,” he added. “Cybersecurity is not only a question of developing defensive technologies but offensive technologies as well.”

That makes sense to Rick Tracy, Telos’ senior vice president and chief security officer. However, he said the nature of cyberattacks can make it extremely difficult to pinpoint those responsible for the attacks and their location.

Another challenge the federal government will face in dealing with cybersecurity is how it tends to award contracts. In many cases, government officials make awards based on the concept of lowest price technically acceptable. However, Wood said that can lead to agencies not getting the protection they need.

“Lowest price technically acceptable does not apply the best value for cybersecurity,” he said.

Similarly, while the federal government is creating new positions to help develop cyberdefense strategies, the government’s pay scale cannot compete with private companies.

“The federal government puts itself as a disadvantage,” said Tracy, who noted the salary gap can be up to three times as much.

GSNews (Estados Unidos)

 



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