Cyber attacks have recently been on the rise in the United States. In October of 2015, for example, the federal government suffered a massive cyber attack that shut down several agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security. The attack is believed to have originated from Russia, one of history’s largest breaches of federal computer systems.
In March of 2018, a major cyber attack hit the city of Atlanta, Georgia. The attack caused widespread damage and crippled many essential city services, including the police department and the transportation system. In addition, city officials could not determine who had carried out the attack or why they had done it.
These are just two examples of the many cyber attacks that have taken place in the United States in recent years. As a result, cyber security is becoming an increasingly important issue, and it is something that we need to take seriously if we want to protect the nation’s digital infrastructure.
The United States government is aware of the threat posed by cyber-attacks and is taking steps to protect itself. Here are five ways the government is doing this:
The Cybersecurity Division
The DHS’s Cybersecurity Division is responsible for protecting the federal government’s computer systems from attacks. The department has been working to strengthen its cybersecurity capabilities in recent years and has made significant progress. For example, in 2017, the DHS launched a new National Cybersecurity Protection System that includes several new tools and technologies to help defend against cyber threats.
Some of these tools include:
- A threat detection and analysis system that uses machine learning to identify and block malicious activity
- A system that prevents devices from connecting to the internet if they are not up to date with security patches
- A system that provides real-time information about cyber threats to government agencies
- In addition to these tools, the DHS also offers training and awareness programs to help government employees stay informed about cybersecurity threats.
The cybersecurity division can stop any known cyber-attack in its tracks.
Utilization of Data Governance Software
The US government has also started to utilize data governance software, which helps to protect sensitive information from being leaked. The software can track who has access to specific data and prevent unauthorized users from accessing it.
This is a crucial step in protecting the government’s data, as leaks of sensitive information can be devastating. In 2017, for example, a leak of classified information led to the resignation of National Security Adviser Michael Flynn. A robust open-source data governance software will help to ensure that such leaks do not happen again. It does this by providing that only authorized personnel access sensitive data and tracking who accesses it.
The use of data governance software is essential in protecting the government’s data.
Encryption of Data
The US government is also working to encrypt its data, making it more difficult for hackers to access.
Data encryption works by transforming the data into a code authorized users can only decode. This makes it much more difficult for hackers to access the data, as they need to have the encryption key.
Additionally, using a decentralized system such as Blockchain can help further improve specific data encryption. Blockchain does this by distributing the data across a network of computers, making it more difficult to hack.
The US government is utilizing encryption to protect its data from being accessed by unauthorized individuals.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA) is a new agency that the DHS created in 2018. The agency’s mission is to protect the nation’s critical infrastructure from cyber attacks. In addition, CISA works with federal, state, and local partners to improve the cybersecurity of critical infrastructure systems, such as the electric grid and financial system.
The agency also works to raise awareness about cybersecurity threats and provides training and resources to help government agencies and businesses protect themselves from attacks.
Increased Cybersecurity Funding
The US government has also increased its cybersecurity funding in recent years. In 2017, Congress appropriated $19 billion for federal cyber security, a significant increase from previous years. This funding is being used to improve the government’s cybersecurity capabilities and to increase its ability to defend against attacks.
The increased funding is helping the government to improve its cybersecurity posture and to better defend against attacks.
These are just a few ways the US government protects itself from cyber-attacks. By investing in cybersecurity, the government is making it more difficult for hackers to access sensitive information and cause havoc. This is crucial in today’s digital age, where cyber-attacks are becoming more common.