Infrastructure

Administration's cybersecurity spending would benefit commercial vendors
The United States expects to spend about $7.3 billion on cybersecurity in fiscal 2009; which firms would benefit from government spending increases? It is likely the commercial software vendors
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NSA to build $2 billion data center in Utah
The NSA major data center — in Fort Meade, Maryland — has maxed out the capacity of the Baltimore area power grid; the super-secret agency is building a second data center in San Antonio, Texas, and has revealed plans to build a third center — a mammoth, 65 MW, $1.93 billion in Camp Williams, Utah
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European researchers create largest quantum key distribution network
Researchers from several European institutions unite in creating the largest quantum key distribution network ever built; a big step toward practical implementation of quantum encryption
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U.S. official says administration is serious about cybersecurity
President Obama, on 29 May, outlined his administration’s cybersecurity strategy; skeptics said they heard such plans promoted before — but administration officials say this time they are serious
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U.S. legislators want European companies punished for aiding Iran's regime
Republican Lindsey Graham (South Carolina) and Democratic Charles Schumer (New York) are backing legislation which calls for the U.S. government “to identify foreign companies that export sensitive technology to Iran. Those companies would not be allowed to apply for procurement contracts with the U.S. government, or renew expiring ones, unless they first terminated those exports to Iran”
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U.S., Russia disagree on cybersecurity
Washington does not believe an international treaty is necessary, but Moscow is seeking a treaty resembling those negotiated on chemical warfare to address the threat of Internet hacker attacks on computer systems
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Smith & Wesson moves into perimeter security market
Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation to acquire Universal Safety Response, Inc. (USR); USR is the creator of the GRAB vehicle safety barrier; the move expands S&W’s revenue base into commercial, non-firearms categories
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Pervious concrete may eliminate need for storm drains
A Minnesota town experiments with a new concrete paving method that lets rainwater pass right through the street surface to prevent damaging runoff
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U.K. infrastructure vulnerable to terrorism, bad weather
A comprehensive new study of U.K. infrastructure says not enough was being done to ensure systems such as energy and transportation could keep going in adverse circumstances
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Hiding buildings from earthquakes
The seismic waves of an earthquake fall into two main groups: body waves that propagate through the Earth, and surface waves that travel only across the surface; invisibility cloaks could be used to make buildings invisible to surface waves
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Obama to seek sweeping changes for cybersecurity
High administration official says that the administration wants to create “far-reaching incentives” for prioritizing cybersecurity in the private sector, which controls much of the nation’s critical IT infrastructure
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U.K. government: Best cyber defense is cyber offense
New National Security Strategy document includes, for the first time, a public cyber security strategy; unnamed high government source: “We don’t want to engage in cyber war but we can’t remain a target for criminals to take a pop at”
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Licensing cybersecurity professionals, II
Even with all the unanswered questions, some cybersecurity experts are happy just to be having the conversation on the topic; they say that all the focus on cybersecurity will turn more attention on training and certification efforts
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U.S. cybercommand will be subordinated to the NSA
Secretary of Defense Gates announces the creation of the U.S. cybercommand; the organization will be based at Fort Meade outside Washington, D.C. and subordinated to the head of the NSA
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House panel votes for mandating safer technology at chemical plants
In a setback to the chemical industry, the House Homeland Security Committee approved a bill yesterday that could make chemical facilities use safer technologies and open them to civil lawsuits when they violate regulations
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