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July 3, 2009
• Vol.31 Issue 18
Page(s) 9 in print issue
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President Obama Details National Cybersecurity Intentions
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 In a move aimed at creating a comprehensive national policy on cybersecurity, President Barack Obama announced he will appoint a national cybersecurity coordinator. In addition to answering directly to Obama, the coordinator will hold a position on both the National Security Council and National Economic Council.
Accompanying Obama’s announcement was a 60-day “Cyberspace Policy Review” he commissioned that included a summation that the “Federal government is not organized to address this growing problem effectively now or in the future.” The report also includes 10 “near-term action” plans deemed necessary to establish an effective cybersecurity policy, including preparing “an updated national strategy to secure the information and communication infrastructure,” creating a “national public awareness and education campaign to promote cybersecurity,” and investing in cybersecurity R&D. Obama says he aims to preserve and protect personal privacy and civil liberties by not “monitoring private sector networks or Internet traffic.”
 Not Easy To Focus On
Chris Zoladz, founder of consulting firm Navigate LLC.net, says the president’s cybersecurity moves are a good step. “Information security is an item that’s easy to not focus on, ignore, [or] defer, until something goes wrong.” Zoladz also favors Obama’s inclusion of the private sector as part of the effort. “The last thing the private sector needs is more government mandates,” Zoladz says. A partnership between the government and private sector, Zoladz says, “will result in creative thinking and solutions” and produce better results vs. the government mandating policies.
Greg Nojeim, senior counsel at the Center For Democracy & Technology, says Obama’s cybersecurity plan is “a new approach, at least publicly, and it’s a welcomed one. . . . We were pleased that the cybersecurity plan indicates a clear intent to build privacy protection in, when other measures proposed might otherwise threaten privacy.” Nojeim says as important as what Obama announced is, what he didn’t announce is also essential. Specifically, Nojeim says the president doesn’t seem interested in some proposals that would give the president such powers as shutting down Internet traffic in the event of a cybersecurity threat or attack.
Nojeim and Zoladz both believe candidates for the coordinator position should possess such basic traits as strong communication skills, integrity, and intelligence as well as being a team player. Nojeim believes some cybersecurity experience on a larger scale would be a positive, although Zoladz says that while having a more-than-casual appreciation of cybersecurity issues would be optimal, there are individuals who are information security experts but not “terribly versed in the privacy space.” Ultimately, “having a seat at those tables can make the right person a player and change agent,” Zoladz says.
by Blaine Flamig
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