FBI recognized that the Internet has become a key platform for spreading extremist propaganda. It has been used as a tool for terrorist recruiting, training, and planning and as a means of social networking for like-minded extremists. Ten years ago, in the absence of the Internet, extremists would have operated in relative isolation, unlike today.
Recently, the Director of Federal Bureau of Investigation, Robert S. Mueller, testified at the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, that since 9/11, the FBI has shifted its focus to being an intelligence-led, threat-focused organization, guided by clear operational strategies.
The FBI is a full member of the U.S. intelligence community and serves as a critical and singular link between the intelligence and law enforcement communities in the United States, the FBI Director noted. Director Mueller noted that the current funding, which consists of .0 billion in salaries and expenses and .0 million in construction, is critical to continue the country’s progress acquiring the intelligence and investigative capabilities required to counter current and emerging national security and criminal threats.
“We then identified the gaps and areas which required additional resources. As a result of this integrated process, the FY 2012 budget proposes 1.5 million for new or expanded initiatives and 181 new positions, including 81 special agents, three intelligence analysts, and 97 professional staff. These additional resources will allow the FBI to improve its capacity to address threats in the priority areas of terrorism, computer intrusions, weapons of mass destruction, foreign counterintelligence, and violent crime,” he stated.
A cyber attack’s impact could be similar to that of a well-placed bomb. To date, terrorists have not used the Internet to launch a full-scale cyber attack, but they have executed numerous denial-of-service attacks and defaced numerous web sites, according to FBI statistics. Mueller stated that the FBI have cyber squads in each of 56 field offices around the country, with more than 1,000 specially trained agents, analysts, and digital forensic examiners. Together, they run complex undercover operations and examine digital evidence. They share information with our law enforcement and intelligence partners. And they teach their local and overseas counterparts how best to investigate cyber threats.
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Mueller then described the National Cyber Investigative Joint Task Force, which helps to coordinate, integrate, and share cyber threat information with the intelligence community and law enforcement, includes 18 law enforcement and intelligence agencies, working side by side to identify key players and schemes. This task force plays an important role in the administration’s Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative (CNCI). The CNCI consists of a number of mutually reinforcing initiatives with major goals designed to help secure the United States in cyberspace. Its main goal is to predict and prevent that which is on the horizon, and then attribute and pursue the enterprises behind these attacks.
The task force operates through Threat Focus Cells—smaller groups of agents, officers, and analysts from different agencies, focused on particular threats. Together with law enforcement, the intelligence community, and international and private sector partners, the United States is making progress, but there is significantly more to do. The FY 2012 budget request includes 42 positions (14 special agents) and .6 million to enhance the FBI’s investigatory capabilities.
FBI’s information security professionals can increase their information security skills by embarking on highly technical and advanced security courses. These IT security professionals can increase their information security knowledge and skills by embarking on highly technical and advanced training programs. EC-Council has launched the Center of Advanced Security Training (CAST), to address the deficiency of highly technically skilled information security professionals.
CAST will provide advanced technical security training covering topics such as Advanced Penetration Testing, Digital Mobile Forensics, Advanced Application Security, Advanced Network Defense, and Cryptography. These highly sought after and advanced information security training will be offered at all EC-Council hosted conferences and events, and through specially selected training partners. The launch classes for CAST will be at the upcoming TakeDownCon Dallas, from May 15-17, 2011.
Tags: Focuses, Improving, INFORMATION, NETWORK, Protect, Security, Skills