Protecting Government Networks

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•DHS is responsible for overseeing the protection of the.gov domain and for providing assistance and expertise to private sector owners and operators. The agency’s work benefits the information technology community and the public at-large.

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Detecting and Responding to Malicious Activity

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•DHS uses intrusion detection tools to monitor .gov network traffic for malicious activity and uses this resulting data to address cyber vulnerabilities.

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•In addition, DHS issues bulletins and alerts that provide information on potential cyber threats. Last year, DHS issued more the 5,000 alerts and advisories, which it shared with various government, private sector, and critical infrastructure stakeholders; as well as the public.

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•DHS also operates a cyber information coordination center, the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center (NCCIC), and several operational units. These units respond to incidents and provide technical assistance to information system operators. The NCCIC coordinates the information collected through these channels to create a common operating picture for cyber communities across all levels of government and the private sector.

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DHS’s Key CyberSecurity Roles (cont.)

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Securing the Cyber Ecosystem  (everything is connected to the Internet)

 

DHS plays a key role in securing the federal government's civilian cyber networks and helping to secure the broader cyber ecosystem through:

partnerships with owners and operators of critical infrastructure such as financial systems, chemical plants, and water and electric utilities the release of actionable cyber alerts

investigations and arrests of cyber criminals, and education about how the public can stay safe online.

Combating cyber threats is a shared responsibility. The public, private, and non-profit sectors, and every level of government – including DHS – all have an important role to play.

 

Responding Quickly to Cyber Vulnerabilities

 

By maintaining a team of skilled cybersecurity professionals and partnering with the private sector, DHS has been able to effectively respond to cyber incidents; provide technical assistance to owners and operators of critical infrastructure and disseminate timely and actionable notifications regarding current and potential security threats and vulnerabilities. By leveraging the resources of the ICE Cyber Crimes Center, DHS has been integrally involved in Internet investigations concerning identity and document fraud, financial fraud, and smuggling.

 

DHS also operates programs citizens with the information they need to protect themselves online

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