Critical cyberinfrastructure development for DHS | 08.22.2005 | 11:34:43 | Views: 4484 | ID: August 22 '05: Cybersecurity at the Department of Homeland Security has been undergoing several changes over the last two years and a recent announcement of a critical infrastructure R&D plan has included measures to push further development. The importance of keeping computer systems up-to-date and secure was underscored last week when a virus infected several computer systems used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at seven major US international airports. The Associated Press reported last week that the infected systems caused large delays in processing incoming international travelers to the US. A spokesman for the department told the AP that out of the seven airports, some of the worst delays were at Miami International Airport where almost 2,000 people were delayed admission into the US. Problems were not as bad for Los Angeles International Airport. There, the computer shut down happened "during a light time of travel for international passengers. ... All systems [were] restored to full capacity," Mike Fleming, a spokesman for US Customs and Border Protection in Los Angeles told the AP. The ability to repair systems quickly is essential to keeping government computer networks running according to DHS' new R&D plan. Government Computer News reported last week that included in the new critical infrastructure plans were two long-term goals identified by the department to have networks and communications systems which would have security "designed-in" rather than added-in after construction; and strong, "self-diagnosing and self-healing physical infrastructure and cyberinfrastructure systems."
Copyright ©2007 TheBreakingNews.com. All Rights Reserved. No reproduction in part or full without prior written permission.
|