Yes, as some have pointed out, it is a real challenge for the Administration to handle so many critical demands simultaneously. But it doesn’t have to be “either/or.” Different groups can be assigned to each area, with little overlap or tradeoff necessary. With the appropriate delegation of authority, we can achieve our goals in many areas. My advice to the Administration is not to focus so much on how the cybersecurity effort should be organized (reminiscent of arranging deckchairs on the Titanic), but on the task at hand. I believe (per my December 1, 2008 column “Cybersecurity Advice for No. 44″) that it is far less important where the cybersecurity role resides than it is to assign the right people to the project, as long as the effort receives top-level support.
Let’s just get on with the job and not be diverted … we’re wasting precious time. Give someone the authority and resources, and let him or her run with it. The enemies are already within our gates, as a series of recent newspaper articles have disclosed … so what are we waiting for?
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