computerwoche.de

Archiv

Surveys: DHS needs more contact with IT execs

30.01.2006
The results of two small surveys released last week suggest that more than three years after the federal government developed a national strategy to secure cyberspace, there is still a divide between the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and state and local governments on the handling of cyberthreats.

The surveys were conducted by the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) and the Metropolitan Information Exchange (MIX) as part of a coordinated effort to gather feedback about the DHS from state and local IT and security managers.

The input gathered by the two organizations shows that "there's room for improvement" in the cybersecurity relationship between the DHS and state and local authorities, said Janette Pell, CIO of California's San Luis Obispo County.

Many of the respondents said that they had very little knowledge about DHS cybersecurity programs because of a complete lack of communication, according to Pell.

Lexington, Ky.-based NASCIO received responses from chief information security officers (CISO) in 27 states, while MIX, an association of county and municipal CIOs, based its findings on responses from 23 local government IT managers.

Denise Moore, CIO for the state of Kansas, said during a press conference last week that the purpose of the survey wasn't to be critical of the DHS but to provide "constructive advice" on how to advance the nation's cybersecurity efforts.