Cybersecurity Activities at NIST’s Information Technology Laboratory
Date: Thursday, October 22, 2009
Time: 02:00 PM
Location: 2318 Rayburn House Office Building
Opening Statement By Chairman David Wu
I want to welcome everyone to this hearing on cybersecurity. More and more of our personal information is making its way online, and our nation’s entire infrastructure—from traffic systems and air traffic control to manufacturing—depends on internet networked systems. I can think of no topic more important for this Subcommittee to address than cybersecurity.
As anyone who has seen Ocean’s Eleven can tell you, thieves have become increasingly sophisticated in their heists. It should be no surprise that cybercriminals are also becoming progressively sophisticated in their crimes.
Congress realized the inherent dangers in networked systems as far back as 1987, when this Committee wrote the Computer Security Act, which charged NIST with developing the technical standards to protect non-classified information on Federal computer systems. Congress has remained alert to cyber-threats. Since 1987, Congress has passed 13 major laws related to cybersecurity.
Today OMB reports that Federal agencies spend $6 billion on cybersecurity to protect a $72 billion IT infrastructure. In addition, the Federal government funds $356 million in cybersecurity research each year. I don’t believe simply spending more money or creating more programs is the means to improve cybersecurity. We need to use our existing resources more efficiently and with specific achievable goals in mind. This is also the main conclusion of the administration’s recent cybersecurity review.
The focus of today’s hearing is not to review what NIST has done, but to address what should be their focus going forward. Since NIST is still the only Federal agency tasked with protecting non-classified Federal computer systems, the testimony we hear today will have a vital, long-lasting effect on our country’s security.
We have a distinguished panel of witnesses who have a long history working with NIST and detailed knowledge of NIST’s IT activities. I want to assure them that this Subcommittee is prepared to act on their recommendations.
Witnesses
Panel
0 - Ms. Cita Furlani
Director Information Technology Lab National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Information Technology Lab National Institute of Standards and Technol
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0 - Dr. Susan Landau
Distinguished Engineer Sun Microsystems, Inc. Sun Microsystems, Inc.
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0 - Dr. Phyllis Schneck
Vice President Threat Intelligence for McAfee Threat Intelligence for McAfee
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0 - Mr. William Wyatt Starnes
Founder and CEO SignaCert SignaCert
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0 - Prof. Fred Schneider
Samual B. Eckert Professor of Computer Science Cornell University Cornell University
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0 - Mr. Mark Bohannon
General Counsel and Senior Vice President Public Policy, Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) Public Policy, Software & Information Industry Assoc
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