DHS Gets in Bed With Silicon Valley to Access Tech & Hackers
- By Susanne Posel – April 22, 2015
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Susanne Posel
Jeh Johnson, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced at a RSA conference, a new beneficial relationship with tech corporations in Silicon Valley, California and the installment of a DHS satellite office in the region.
The goal of DHS is to “build relationships with the technology industry and scout for talent there.”
Johnson said this move is to “strengthen critical relationships in Silicon Valley and ensure the government and the private sector benefits from each other’s research and development.”
DHS hopes to “convince some of the talented workforce here in Silicon Valley to come to Washington. The new U.S. Digital Service provides the option for talent to flow and rotate between private industry and our government teams.”
Because “cybersecurity is a major priority” for the current president, the DHS has made steps to advance their cybersecurity capabilities with the addition of “the private sector”.
Johnson said: “We need each other, and we must work together. There are things government can do for you, and there are things we need you to do for us.”
In 2013, the DHS released job listings for hackers and other “online professionals” that can assist the US government in protecting national security in cyberspace.
The cybersecurity internship program “is designed to give current students an opportunity to work alongside cyber leaders with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Interns are recruited from the nation’s top undergraduate and graduate programs to put their academic achievements and intellect to use.”
At the University of Maryland a degree in cybersecurity can easily be obtained which qualifies any American to be trained to serve the homeland in cyberspace. Many other colleges offer similar degrees accredited by DHS.
Collaborating with colleges across the nation, DHS has been hoping to hire more than 600 cybersecurity “pros” since 2012. Familiarity with digital coding is a must.
Janet Napolitano stated in 2012 that children as young as kindergarteners should be trained to think of serving as the next generation of cybersecurity agents for the US government.
Napolitano explained that the DHS is “working to develop the next generation of leaders in cybersecurity while fostering an environment for talented staff to grow in this field. We are building strong cybersecurity career paths within the Department, and in partnership with other government agencies.”
Last year the president outlined that cybersecurity would be the responsibility of many factions of the US government.
According to the executive order 13636, entitled “Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity”, this is a voluntary; risk-based Cybersecurity Framework must be created with the DHS Voluntary Program who will partner with the various members of federal agencies for assistance and increase participation with existing relationships with corporations; while providing more opportunities to create public-private partnerships (PPPs).
President Obama said about the framework: “While I believe today’s Framework marks a turning point, it’s clear that much more work needs to be done to enhance our cybersecurity.”
Obama said: “Our critical infrastructure continues to be at risk from threats in cyberspace, and our economy is harmed by the theft of our intellectual property.”
This “living” document will be amended as needed “to keep pace with changes in technology, threats and other factors, and to incorporate lessons learned from its use.”
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