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A major cybersecurity step

Judi Hasson

6/2/2009

His response was to create a cybersecurity coordinator inside the White House who will be part of the national security apparatus and have direct access to the Oval Office. The coordinator, said Obama, will be to help set government-wide policy direction, clamp down bureaucratic conflicts and turf battles, and presumably straighten out confusing lines of authority.

Government IT policy for years has been haphazard, despite numerous laws, presidential directives and billions of dollars in funding.

There has been constant confusion about roles and responsibilities, with the National Security Agency, the Defense Department, the Department of Homeland Security and other elements of the government often working at cross purposes, or in competition with each other, and not always in cooperation with the private sector.

Obama's pronouncements and a lengthy policy report he released on Friday make it clear that he understands the problems and the seriousness of the threats we face from foreign adversaries, virus writers, criminal elements, hackers and even terrorist organizations.

Now, it will be up to the president to fill in the outline with details, and to actually act on the many observations and recommendations.

We have had three major presidential initiatives since 1998, and we still have major problems and vulnerabilities. Now, as we face an escalating threat, we need real leadership and coordination from the White House to insure that the federal computer systems, our military communication systems and our powers grids, aviation and financial systems remain safe from intrusion.

The proof will be in the action, not the words.

By: Judi Hasson for Fierce Government IT.

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