Getting Serious About Cyber Security

In case you missed it, last week President Obama announced plans to create a new office at the White House headed by a Cybersecurity Coordinator because the cyber threat “is one of the most serious economic and national security challenges we face as a nation.” He also indicated the new office would be part of the new single White House National Security Staff that also encompasses homeland security and counterterrorism functions. The US military has been at the forefront of the effort to combat the cyber threat, with plans now emerging about creating a new sub-command under US Strategic Command. And, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz has just issued a directive that elevates computer maintenance, network tasking orders, and cyber control orders issued by the Air Force Network Operations commander “to the same authority as aircraft maintenance technical orders and lawful general orders,” according to a May 28 Air Force release. (White House Cyberspace Policy Review)