The Department of Homeland Security's National Cybersecurity Division

The Department of Homeland Security was formed after the horrific attacks of 9/11. It is the division of our government that protects our borders as well as any and all entry points into this great land. Among the divisions including the Cyber Security Division, are the US Secret Service, The US Coast Guard and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). You can see a full listing of all divisions here.

The Department of Homeland Security's National Cybersecurity Division "works collaboratively with public, private and international entities to secure cyberspace and America's cyber assets."

They are in tune with and able to follow their mission by creating and implimenting a swift and proper response system, but also, creating and implimenting a risk management system geared to the protection of all major compinents.

Like any other law enforcement organization, they are open 24/7 The response system within, takes charge and follows through all aspects of response when actions are necessary.

Since threats are changing hour by hour, they allow you as a user (technical and non technical) to sign up for alerts with the National Cyber Alert System. Also, The US Computer Emergency Response Team (US-CERT) does their part by reducing the threats and vulnerabilities, as well as going through all threat warning information and going forth with the best course of response. There is also a conglomeration of 13 agencies within the National Cyber Response Group all working together to respong in a quick and timely manner to any incident nationwide. The Cyber Cop Portal as I can see as a civilian is an information sharing site for thousands of investigators throughout the world enforcing and investigating cyber crimes on all levels.

The National Cybersecurity Division also puts it agents and workers through what they call Cyber Excercises which in essence, are drills for Cyber threats, much like a fire department would run a hazmat drill or a school, a fire drill.

October is a big month for them. It is National Outreach Awareness Month which works with all sectors to raise awareness and teaches prevention to combat cyber crimes.

Lastly, the have a Software Assurance Program to combat crimes coming from a back door into your computer which could be a gateway to our internet. They moniter reliability and security in the software sector.

Asside from their website, you can write them at:

National Cybersecurity Division

Department of Homeland Security

Washington, D. C. 20528