DHS has become the epicenter for government cybersecurity

http://www.gsnmagazine.com/node/32882?c=cyber_security

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has become the lead agency in the federal government for cyber security. DHS’s responsibility to protect against cyber threats has evolved significantly from early days of the Department and its creation under the Homeland Security Act of 2002.

DHS’s integral role in cyber preparedness, response and resilience are now accepted by other federal agencies, including the leadership of the defense and intelligence agencies. General Keith Alexander, Commander of USCYBERCOM and Director of the National Security Agency (NSA) noted recently that it is appropriate to put DHS in “the middle” of the issue. DHS, as a civilian agency, should take a leading role in safeguarding the nation’s cybersecurity preparedness. The Department of Defense (DOD) retains responsibility for offensive cybersecurity capabilities, including cyber warfare.

Retiring DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano affirmed in one of her last speeches that cyberspace is fundamentally a civilian space -- and a civilian benefit -- that employs partnerships with the private sector. She recommended that DHS continue to build up the nation’s cybersecurity posture and warned that “our country will, at some point, face a major cyber-event that will have a serious effect on our lives, our economy, and the everyday functioning of our society.”