DHS Emphasizes Need for $751.4 Million for Cybersecurity

The common denominator among most public safety agencies is that they all are in need of more funding, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is no exception.

The Senate appropriations subcommittee recently heard  the president's FY 2013 budget request, with  Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano in tow to emphasize the need.  Warfare is evolving with the implementation of bio- and cyberterrorism.  The Federal OIG discovered 5,408 cybersecurity threats to the NASA alone last year.

The budget request includes $751.4 million to enhance cybersecurity, with the breakdown as follows:

• $345 million to the National Cybersecurity Protection System (NCPS), which manages EINSTEIN, a system used to enhance analysis, situational awareness, and security response to identified malicious network traffic.  Napolitano says this system prevents/detects intrusions on government systems.
• $236 million to the Federal Network Security Branch, which enables federal agencies to secure their IT networks.  This branch supports Federal Executive Branch civilian departments in accordance with the Federal Information Security Management Act.
• $93 million to the US-Computer Emergency Readiness Team, a workforce commited to improving the nation's cybersecurity posture and promoting information sharing, including risk information.
• $64.5 million for cyber investigations through the Secret Service and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.  This includes benefits fraud, arms and strategic technology, money laundering, counterfeit pharmaceuticals, child pornoghraphy and human trafficking.
• $12.9 million to provide virtual education and training for a cybersecurity workforce specializing in national threats and hazards.

For more information on budgetary legislation on the Senate floor related to cybersecurity, visit Urgent Communications.