DHS Reorganization to Create Assistant Secretary for Cyber Security

On Wednesday, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff announced his intention to create an Assistant Secretary for Cyber Security and Telecommunications as part of his plans to reorganize the Department of Homeland Security. The holder of this new position will be responsible for identifying and assessing the vulnerability of critical telecommunications infrastructure and assets; providing timely, actionable and valuable threat information; and leading the national response to cyber and telecommunications attacks.

In response to the announcement, Paul Kurtz, executive director of the Cyber Security Industry Alliance (CSIA) said:

"Today marks a huge step forward in the fight to protect our nation's critical information infrastructure. Under Secretary Chertoff, the Department of Homeland Security has exercised great leadership and vision by creating an Assistant Secretary for Cyber Security and Telecommunications at the Department. By adding a position that holds both the resources and authority to effectively lead public-private efforts to harden our nation's IT and communications infrastructure against cyber attacks, DHS has created the foundation needed to move forward with the execution of a comprehensive approach to cyber security that will successfully build on public and private sector efforts to date."