CybersecurityWashington National Guard keeps an eye on cyberattacks
The Washington National Guard is working on a project that will protect state and local governments as well as utilities and businesses in the state from cyberattacks
The Washington National Guard is working on a project that will protect state and local governments as well as utilities and businesses in the state from cyberattacks.
The 262nd Network Warfare Squadron carries out worldwide cyber security missions and also protects the Pentagon from hackers looking to steal information or manipulate Defense Department data. The Seattle Times reports that many of the men and women in the squadron split their time with other companies like Microsoft and Amazon, giving the Guard a distinct advantage.
Lieutenant Gent Welsh of the Air National Guard said they want to bring the digital world the same kind of response the Guard uses in natural disasters such as hurricanes and wildfires. “Just as `Business X’ needs the National Guard to come in and fill sand bags, `Business X’ might need to call the National Guard if it’s overwhelmed on the cyber side.” Welsh told the Seattle Times.
The Washington National Guard approved a plan earlier this year that outlined how it will assist utilities and local governments in cyberattacks.
According to Michael Hamilton, chief of Seattle’s information security systems, there were too many obstacles for a realistic partnership between the Guard and the city of Seattle, but they will work on certain projects together in the future.
Hamilton wanted the National Guard to test Seattle’s cyber defenses, but they could not make it work as a request would have to go from the governor to DHS. Instead Hamilton will work with the National Guard to define what level of attack will trigger a call-up and response.
Intelligence-driven programs such as this should be safe from budget cuts by the military over the next decade. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said in August that cybersecurity would remain a top priority through the cuts.
This is good news for soldiers and citizens who are thinking of pursuing careers in cybersecurity, a relatively new industry that is growing at a rapid rate and has lots of opportunities for employment.
“There’s 0 percent unemployment in this field,” Barbara Endicott-Popovsky, director of the Center for Information Assurance and Cyber Security at the University of Washington told the Times. “There’s a deficit of people in this field.”
“I really want to see soldiers be able to take advantage of it and get themselves careers that have legs, cyber security - I don’t care how old you are - will not be solved in our lifetime.”
