Comments on: House politicians search for DHS cybersecurity fix

A House subcommittee isn't wildly enthusiastic about Homeland Security's cybersecurity efforts, but members aren't sold on the idea of moving those responsibilities to the National Security Agency or the White House.

[Commander_Spock]

Re: "[... And the idea of a White House takeover wasn't wildly popular. "I want to respectfully disagree with those of you who think the White House is a place to put this," said Rep. Paul Broun, a Georgia Republican. He added: "I think this committee, not the White House, should be setting policy....]"

Well, if the "head" does not "know" what the "hands" and "feet"; and, the "rest of the body" are doing then what scenarios will there be???

Take a look at it; after hundreds and hundreds of billions of dollars have been pumped into the economy and we still cannot get it right! Cut off the funding for cybersecurity programs at the DHS center at this center is toast!

[maxsell]

So you think the White House should be in charge of this effort? So far they haven't been impressing me with their organizational skills. I think we should let the NSA handle this.

[Commander_Spock]

Re: "So you think the White House should be in charge of this effort?"

Well, consider if when constructing a "pyramid" just how it will look if it not completed all the way to the top; and, then again the behavior of the "Wheel-In-A-Wheel" from that Biblical text and tell us if we can have any "part" missing.

[griffinpao]

Thank you Declan McCullagh for following our governments efforts, both poor and passing. Now that the cyber-infrastructure is inextricably tied to our daily American lives it IS gravely important to re-enforce the importance of its protection. I agree with Amit Yoran's comments: "DHS's "key role" should be to protect government networks," and let the NSA do the rest of the job that is inherent in their name.

[Commander_Spock]

Re: "... Now that the cyber-infrastructure is inextricably tied to our daily American lives...]"

Yep, an "cyber-infrastructure" that failed to forewarn of the current financial and economic meltdown that the world is currently facing along with (for now...) the question of what restrictions existed to have allowed data on the upgrade of the White House's helicopter to have appeared on an computer in Iran as was reported. Some sort of secured "cyber-infrastructure" we have existing - Huh! So much so, one wonders what is happening in the banking and finance industries and do not get reported!

[ordaj]

Scott Charney and Microsoft? Please. There's no agenda there.

That's the problem with gov't insecurity. You have these big vendors getting in there selling what's good for them, not the country.

The NSA probably wants to push hardware security and Microsoft wants it to be all about software. Their software.

[Commander_Spock]

Re: "[... The NSA probably wants to push hardware security and Microsoft wants it to be all about software. Their software...]"

You can bet the farm that the "cyber-security gloves" will be raised when the "Open-Source Gurus" challenging "Microsoft" enter the ring!

[Dr_Zinj]

DHS is a virtually useless department. They are a money sink with no return on investment. Existing security, intelligence, and law enforcement assets were all we needed. Their only problem being that they didn't talk to each other in meaningful dialog.

President Obama should dissolve the DHS and place the intelligence consolidation and analysis functions under the NSA.

[Monkeydung]

I agree with Dr_Zinj but would like to take it one step further and suggest dissolving the NSA, FBI, CIA and the secret service and even more important than the rest, dissolve the alchohol and firearms people.