Survey shows organizations confident in their security despite recent breaches

A recent survey shows that many businesses are confident in their ability to detect a data breach, though some experts question whether that confidence is justified. Successful attacks on organizations including Target, eBay and Evernote have demonstrated that even large businesses are not immune to cyber threats. However, the survey, conducted by Atomic Research and […]

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Student competition aims to inspire future cyber security professionals

More than 400 teams are already registered for the 2014-2015 season of CyberPatriot, a competition that began in 2009 to motivate students to consider careers in cyber security and other science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines. The current season, known as CyberPatriot VII, boasts participation from 40 states as well as Puerto Rico, Canada, and U.S. Department of Defense […]

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FCC chairman outlines cyber security vision

In remarks delivered earlier today at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C., FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler outlined his organization’s philosophy on cyber security. Stressing the importance of network security, Wheeler noted that today information networks don’t just support the economy, they essentially are the economy. “As such, information networks aren’t ancillary; they are integral,” he said. […]

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Survey: Cyber security again the top priority for federal CIOs

Following a year of continued Congressional division, sequestration, a government shutdown and the troubled rollout of Healthcare.gov, IT industry association TechAmerica last week released its annual survey of federal government CIOs. TechAmerica surveys federal government CIOs each year to gauge their ongoing priorities and concerns. In this year’s 24th annual report, that group was expanded slightly […]

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White House Cybersecurity Coordinator assesses cyber security regulations

White House Cybersecurity Coordinator Michael Daniel shared his thoughts on existing cyber security regulations earlier today on the White House blog. In his post, he highlights Executive Order 13636, “Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity,” which among other things directs Executive Branch departments and agencies that regulate the security of private-sector critical infrastructure to assess whether, based on the Cybersecurity […]

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EBay becomes latest site to have user passwords hacked

Earlier today, we learned details of the latest cyber attack to affect a major online retailer when eBay reported that a database containing encrypted passwords and other non-financial data had been compromised. The company is asking its users — all 128 million of them — to change their passwords as a precautionary measure, joining others who […]

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U.S. Air Force awards $3.3 million contract for cyber security training

TeleCommunication Systems, which specializes in secure mobile communication technology, today reported it has entered into a contract with E-volve Technology Systems to provide training services to the U.S. Air Force for its Cyber Operations Training Program. The subcontract includes a base award term of five months and two one-year option terms for a total possible […]

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Survey: Companies not prepared for cyber security risks of outsourcing

Post-resession, partnering with third-party vendors and outsourcing tasks that were once handled in-house has become a common cost-saving strategy. Unfortunately, many organizations aren’t prepared to address the information technology and security risks that can emerge from outsourcing, according to a new survey by the Shared Assessments Program and consulting firm Protiviti. The survey, which asked companies […]

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Retailers association launches cyber intelligence sharing center

Retailers were among the hardest hit and most talked about victims of cyber crime in 2013. Now they are doing their best to fight back. Just yesterday, the Retail Industry Leaders Association and key retailers from around the country launched the Retail Cyber Intelligence Sharing Center, otherwise known as R-CISC. The center is an independent […]

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NIST releases systems security engineering guidelines

At a presentation at the University of Minnesota this morning, National Institute of Standards and Technology Fellow Ron Ross announced the publication of a new set of systems security engineering guidelines designed to help improve information security. NIST Special Publication 800-160 was released in draft form and is now available for public comment. You can download the […]

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NIST official to announce new cyber security guidelines in Minnesota

Ron Ross, a fellow at the National Institute of Standards and Technology and leader of the Federal Information Security Management Act Implementation Project, will announce new draft cyber security guidelines at the University of Minnesota on Tuesday. The guidelines are contained within “Special Publication 800-160, Systems Security Engineering: An Integrated Approach to Building Trustworthy Resilient Systems.” They were […]

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