Cybersecurity, Cyberanalysis & Warning

Cyber analysis and warning capabilities are critical to thwarting computer-based (cyber) threats and attacks. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) established the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) to, among other things, co-ordinate the nation’s efforts to prepare for, prevent, and respond to cyber threats to systems and communications networks. The authors’ objectives were to (1) identify key attributes of cyber analysis and warning capabilities, (2) compare these attributes with US-CERT’s current capabilities to identify whether there are gaps, and (3) identify US-CERT’s challenges to developing and implementing key attributes and a successful national cyber analysis and warning capability. To address these objectives, the authors identified and analysed related documents, observed operations at numerous entities, and interviewed responsible officials and experts.