The DHS appointments come at a time when there are growing questions about what the agency's appropriate role should be on cybersecurity. The DHS continues to be the lead agency on cybersecurity matters, but it has been for its inability to live up to that role.

When Beckstrom resigned as director of the NCSC in February, he between the DHS and the National Security Agency over cybersecurity. He cited as reasons for his decision to leave the NSA's growing interference in domestic cybersecurity matters and the DHS' unwillingness to lend the needed financial support and other resources to the NCSC.

Many agree that the DHS needs to be empowered to take an operational role in cybersecurity. But they have also argued that the task of developing and enforcing a comprehensive national cybersecurity strategy belongs in the White House. Over the past few months, several groups have lobbied for the creation of a high-level cybersecurity post within the executive offices of the president.

It was against this backdrop that President Obama last week announced the creation of a White House level to oversee governmentwide information security efforts. Obama has yet to make the appointment and it remains unknown how the official will work with the DHS and other government agencies in pulling together a national cybersecurity strategy.