Who is Running the Show?

I have read several articles lately regarding the state of our National cybersecurity posture. In eWeek Magazine this week, there is an article by Matt Hines, "Short Lived Cyber Czars" and in InformationWeek, "Quick Takes" this weeks, "Leadership Needed". Both articles discuss the lack of authority or funding that Cyber Czar in this position has.

It seems that there are several issues responsible for our lack of a leader for this position and a lack of a role the department should take in structuring and enforcing a National Cyber Security policy .

There is a real and ongoing cyberwar against the United States that is unacknowledged and there is not a leader to take on the charge. There is the role of the Cyber Czar, however this position lies deep within the Department of Homeland Security, and has little or no authority. In addition, no one wants the position because the position receives no funding.

Rod Beckstrom, recently resigned the position after only one year, because he said that the department is so far removed from the main stream that there is a lack of influence to get anything done. In addition to lack of authority, there are issues with the NSA and who should really be running the show. To top it all off, the Cyber Czar only received five weeks of funding for his five person team.

I think that we should really move our country's cypersecurity initiative to the front burner where it belongs.Without a Federal CIO in place, no one department has taken the reins to coordinate efforts to safeguard our national security from the ongoing cyberwar. In addition, should this be run by the civilian effort or by the military effort? There are several views there but, the issue still remains that there is no one doing it today. The NSA has become the "de facto" leader on our defense, but is that really where the authority should reside?