DHS announces new authority to recruit cybersecurity professionals
2009-10-02
National Cybersecurity Awareness Month has started and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) secretary Janet Napolitano has announced a new authority to recruit and hire cybersecurity professionals across the DHS over the next three years.
This may interest those in the US looking to prevent a data breach as the new authority will allow the DHS to fill up to 1,000 positions over the three years, although the DHS does not anticipate that it will need to fill all of these roles.
"Effective cybersecurity requires all partners - individuals, communities, government entities and the private sector - to work together to protect our networks and strengthen our cyber resiliency," commented secretary Napolitano.
"This new hiring authority will enable DHS to recruit the best cyber analysts, developers and engineers in the world to serve their country by leading the nation's defences against cyber threats," she continued.
Ms Napolitano also highlighted the important roles that both individuals and the private sector have in protecting cyber networks in the US from terrorism and IT intrusion.
The hiring authority has been established through a collaborative effort between DHS, the Office of Personnel Management and the Office of Management and Budget. Positions will cover areas such as cyber risk and strategic analysis, cyber incident response, vulnerability detection and assessment as well as intelligence and investigation.
According to the DHS, the announcement is a sign of the Obama administration's commitment to providing the agency with the critical tools required to establish a world-class cyber organisation and compete for cybersecurity talent.
As for National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, DHS and its public and private sector partners will be promoting efforts to educate people on guarding against cyber threats at home, work and school.
The theme for the month is "Our Shared Responsibility" to highlight that all have a responsibility to protect themselves at work, school and home.
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