Pentagon (and NSA) Taking Offensive with Cyber Security

We just asked “How Are Infosec Pros Affected by Pentagon’s 46K Layoffs Plans?” on Friday and now it looks like we may have our answer. A story on the front cover of the Washington Post this morning cites the Defense Department’s Cyber Command calling upon a 500% increase over the next several years.

The story notes the boost in the Pentagon’s cyber security force due to a major expansion of its cyber command center to ‘defend critical computer systems’ and ‘conduct offensive operations.’ This push towards ‘offensive’ tactics in cyber security marks a noticeable (and relatively new) trend towards recognizing the need for more offensive tactics in cyber security.

One major issue of increased ‘cyber security’ plans at the DoD, however, is the growing involvement with the NSA, which ‘employs some of the nations’ most advanced cyber-operations specialists.’ This helps to clarify what a senior defense official notes late in the article as ‘We’re not talking about doing something to make sure that Mrs. Smith’s bank account didn’t get hijacked by somebody.’ In other words, ‘real’ cyber security folks.

The Washington Post even has a special report from author Robert O’Harrow, available as an e-book titled ‘Zero-Day, The Threat in Cyberspace’ that was placed next to the print version of today’s cyber security article. For more information on O’Harrow’s ebook and the in-depth investigative report on cyber security, visit the Zero-Day Special Report Page on the Washington Post.

Read the full article here.

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Do you think the increased cyber security measures of the DOD are a good thing, and do you think the NSA’s involvement will help or hurt their efforts? Today’s post pic is from WashingtonPost.com.