Senate Homeland International Reviews Security andHong Abney and Commerce Associates Kong

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3/8/13

International Reviews Abney and Associates Hong Kong OVERNIGHT TECH: Senate Homeland Security and Commerce panels to talk cyber order, legislation THE LEDE: Two Senate panels will get to question Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano at a Thursday hearing about President Obama's cybersecurity executive order and measures that still need to be addressed in cyber legislation this year. The Thursday hearing will be held jointly by the Senate Homeland Security and Commerce panels, which have played a major role in leading cybersecurity legislative efforts in recent years. White House officials have acknowledged that the executive order is limited in what it can accomplish and that it will be up to Congress to enact the measures needed to protect the country from a crippling cyberattack. In a statement, Senate Homeland Security Chairman Tom Carper (DDel.) stressed that "a true partnership" is needed to pass comprehensive cybersecurity legislation this year both between government and industry, and within the federal government itself. "While I commend the president for issuing this very important order, there was only so much he could do using the authorities granted to him under existing law. Those authorities are simply not enough to get the job done," Carper said. "Now is the time to begin the process of 3/8/13 gathering input from the administration and a broad array of

Finding a bipartisan solution to addressing the cyber threat is a top priority for Carper, according to a committee spokesperson, and Thursday's hearing is one of the steps he is taking to find out how the country can better protect itself against cyberattacks. During the hearing, Carper intends to learn more about the implementation of the executive order and steps Congress can take to complement its measures. The Homeland Security chairman also plans to discuss improving information-sharing efforts, as well as the need to clarify the roles of the federal government when it comes to cybersecurity, among other topics. Cybersecurity and the need to protect the country's water systems, banks, transportation networks and other critical infrastructure from hacker attacks have gained more attention in the past year. With the recent spate of attacks on U.S banks and companies like Apple, Microsoft, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, it seems like a week doesn't go by without some news about a computer security breach. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller noted in a statement that the cyber threat facing the United States has only increased since Congress failed to pass legislation last year, and that "we simply cannot afford to wait any longer to adequately protect ourselves." 3/8/13 While the headlines have not driven Congress to reach a compromise

In addition to Napolitano, Patrick Gallagher, under secretary of commerce for Standards and Technology, will testify before the two committees. He will describe how the executive order tasks the Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) with working with industry to craft a framework of cybersecurity best practices and standards for key infrastructure. "The cybersecurity challenge facing critical infrastructure is greater than it ever has been. The president's executive order reflects this reality, and lays out an ambitious agenda founded on active collaboration between the public and private sectors," Gallagher will say, according to written testimony. "NIST is mindful of the weighty responsibilities with which we have been charged by President Obama, and we are committed to listening to, and working actively with, critical infrastructure owners and operators to develop a cybersecurity framework." Also testifying will be Gregory Wilshusen, director of information security issues at the Government Accountability Office, and Dow Chemical Company Chief Information Security Officer David Kepler. International Reviews Abney and Associates Hong Kong 3/8/13