The risk associated with legacy information technology (IT) systems not meeting the Federal Government’s evolving needs is substantial and unacceptable. The costs are also significant with 78% of the $80 billion spent annually on Federal IT going toward maintaining existing systems, crowding out funding for modernization.
As the United States faces the growing threat of homegrown violent extremism, the need to fuel widespread neighborhood vigilance and uphold a concerted local effort remains a focal point in preventing terrorism. Successful homeland security efforts require well-informed and proactive communities. Since publishing its first National Strategy in 2002, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has engaged citizens by promoting an observant culture throughout American society.
Maintaining organizational stability so the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) can continue its mission during an administration change is critical to keep our nation safe. New agency leaders need access to the basics – organizational information like key policies, organizational charts, mission priorities, current strategy, and dashboards. It is critical, though, to also have access to the current mission status, key issues and risks, and a playbook that allows them to act immediately in the event of a crisis.
Today's global threat environment is increasingly complex, especially monitoring individuals leaving and entering countries. Events like the terrorist attacks in Paris put increasing mission pressure on the U.S. to properly vet and identify individuals entering and exiting the country. Refugees from countries of unrest, such as Syria, further complicate this mission challenge.
In an environment of limited resources, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its components face the challenge of creating loyal stakeholders as a means to stay relevant and obtain sustained funding. In the many mission areas across DHS, there are valuable, unique programs that must grow and develop to meet the ever-increasing needs of demanding stakeholders.
Recent large-scale cybersecurity incidents have highlighted the need for increased vigilance and defense against information security threats that affect organizations worldwide. Hackers stole the personal data of more than 21 million people in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Breach in 2015. These cyber-attacks resulted in the theft of personal information of millions of Americans, many of whom are current or former Federal workers and contractors. Stolen information enables hackers to conduct individual targeted cyber-attacks, such as spam and phishing campaigns. Individuals, businesses, and other organizations must stay aware of emerging threats and act quickly to secure their data and networks.
In today’s world of evolving technology, we expect a certain level of “intimacy” with our data. We are no longer just passive receivers of data, but involved participants that create and distribute it. With the rise of crowd-sourced information, society increasingly demands this immediate and accurate information, and compels the people to provide it.
A refugee crisis on the heels of war. A sudden diaspora in response to a spreading disease. A natural disaster displacing thousands of international citizens.
These are three very real scenarios that the United States government and the international community have had to face in the past year alone, and three cases that make negotiating across ethnic lines that much more important to the homeland security mission. In times of crisis, disagreements are inevitable, but knowing how to properly address them in creating a plan of action can mean the difference between coming to a mutual agreement or severing a working relationship.
Scientists predict that the next full-margin rupture of the Cascadia subduction zone will produce the worst natural disaster in the history of North America. With many experts suggesting we are overdue for the “big one,” it is critical for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to incorporate effective risk management methods within their mission-critical, national, and high profile programs to improve their ability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, and recover from the potentially devastating effects of this imminent threat.
In the virtual public square, the most valuable intelligence might not be so secret. In fact, the intelligence might be in plain view. During the trial of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the public discovered that the Boston Marathon bombers learned how to build their weapons not in a clandestine operation, but from Al-Qaeda’s public and free online magazine, Inspire. Everything the Tsarnaevs knew about terrorism came from open source information.
The United States confronts a wide array of threats. Terrorism. Transnational criminal organizations. Drug and weapons smuggling. Human trafficking. Cybercrime. And the ongoing challenge of illegal migration across U.S. borders.
