http://news.com.com/U.S.+cybersecurity+czar+has+his+marching+orders/2008-7348_3-6160438.html 

By Joris Evers
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
February 20, 2007

newsmaker: The top U.S. cybersecurity official wants Congress to come up 
with ways to promote adoption of security technologies, and he sees a 
tax break as one possible incentive.

Greg Garcia was appointed by Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff in 
September, after the position went unfilled for more than a year. He's 
the first U.S. cybersecurity czar to hold the title of assistant 
secretary. The elevated position is important as it comes with more 
power; a lack of stature is part of the reason why his predecessors 
failed, Garcia says.

His self-described mission is hardly surprising, especially given his 
background as an executive at the Information Technology Association of 
America, a tech industry group.

For example, Garcia is asking for Congress to think of ways to promote 
more purchases of security technology or technology with security 
already built in. He's not asking for regulation of the industry. He 
opposes that, thus going against some who have advocated backdoors in 
encryption technology so law enforcement can read the encrypted files of 
criminal suspects.

Garcia is also working to connect private industry security watchdogs 
with government ones, continuing the familiar call for cooperation 
between public and private groups. He sat down with CNET News.com 
earlier this month.
 

Q: You've been on the job almost six months now. You've said that after 
the first week you felt like a laptop getting a download from a 
supercomputer. What do you feel like now?

Garcia: I feel like a supercomputer. We are really poised for some 
successes this year. When I say it is downloading a supercomputer into a 
laptop, it was because the cybersecurity and communications mission is 
so huge, and, of course, it's learning your way around the bureaucracy. 
But in mid-December I briefed the secretary on my objectives and he 
understood it, and he gave me the marching orders to go execute.

Now it's February and I've got my leadership team in place, and so I'm 
feeling much more complete as an organization that we have the 
intellectual firepower (and) we have people with years of government 
experience who understand how to get things done. So, I'm feeling very 
confident.


You're the first person to have this more elevated role and title as 
assistant secretary. Is it important that you are an assistant 
secretary--does it make your job easier?

Garcia: I noticed it on my first week on the job. I think what everybody 
was looking for is someone who is the focal point for cybersecurity and 
communications security. Somebody who can actually follow through when 
the private sector is asked to commit resources to do something like a 
national risk assessment (or) to do something like partnering with the 
government on operational capabilities.

A lot of problems in the past existed because there was not someone of 
this level managing the mission. It really took place with fits and 
starts because there wasn't someone senior enough to have the influence 
and the authority, not just within DHS, but across all government 
agencies. I am able to say: "This will be," and I can get things done. 
People recognize that, and they were eager for it.


You plan on calling on Congress to think of ways to provide incentives 
so people will enhance security. What incentives would drive security 
investments?

Garcia: All the stakeholders have different business models: financial 
services companies, banks, insurance companies, for example. What is 
persuasive to them as a business case so they would invest $1 million in 
an information technology system with security features and invest in 
training?

I think Congress plays an important role in its oversight capacity. What 
laws are in existence that (deter) investment in security, and what laws 
ought to be written that will help push the market toward investment 
that will strengthen our security? Is it insurance? Get better rates on 
insurance. Are there tax incentives that can come from this? Relief from 
liability?

There are a lot of different ideas that have been discussed by the 
private sector, by Congress. I want a more concerted effort, a series of 
hearings that really look at some of the different critical 
infrastructure sectors. What we need to be able to do is to articulate 
how it is that investing in security is going to accrue more benefits 
back to the company.


Ultimately, you would hope that Congress in some way would make it more 
interesting for businesses, organizations and universities to invest in 
security?

Garcia: There may be no need for legislation. What I'm suggesting is 
that this conversation needs to take place in a methodical way. Just the 
existence of that conversation may get different sectors to think 
creatively about how companies can invest and feel good about the 
investment knowing that there is a return.


Could it be like the tax breaks on hybrid cars? Could I get a tax break 
if I buy a computer system with enhanced security, similar to when I buy 
a Prius today?

Garcia: A lot of it is exactly that. But it has to be customer 
driven--if you're my customer, and you say, "I'll do business with you 
if you can show me that you have a secure system." We're trying to raise 
awareness to get everyone thinking proactively about security instead of 
reacting to breaches or Internet disruptions because they didn't 
prepare. A lot of this is going to be customer driven; there maybe some 
tweaks to laws that Congress can do that will drive investment.


You, as (do) many in the industry, predict that all worldwide 
communications will be going over a single, Internet Protocol-based 
pipe. Is that a scary thought?

Garcia: It can be if we don't address the full spectrum of issues. 
Having our information and communications traveling through the same 
pipe introduces efficiencies for enterprise management, cost savings, 
productivity, a panoply of features. This is the next-generation 
network, but with that comes more vulnerabilities. We need to be clearly 
aware of what those vulnerabilities are and take steps now as we build 
out this little architecture, (and) build in more security as we go.


At the same time, you see a threat in globalization of the IT industry.

Garcia: Globalization is great and, just (like) convergence of networks, 
globalization introduces new efficiencies and economies of scale. 
However, there are risks involved with that, because the more you 
distribute your design, your manufacturing, your packaging, your 
shipping, the more there are opportunities for vulnerabilities to be 
introduced. A lot of the malicious hackers are outside of the United 
States.

Many global companies that I've talked with are acutely aware of that 
and have very stringent controls in terms of employee clearance 
processes, background checks--that kind of thing.


Still, Apple shipped a Windows virus on iPods assembled overseas.

Garcia: All companies need to be watchful. Globalization does present 
risks, but ultimately the test is not where something is made, but how 
it is made. There have to be security procedures built into the supply 
chain, particularly if you've got a global supply chain.


You talked about US-CERT, your network monitoring center, moving in with 
private sector security monitoring efforts. What are the benefits of 
this?

Garcia: For us to have a truly effective instant response, you need 
trusted information sharing between the key stakeholders. If we don't 
have that, we're not going to work as well together, so collocating and 
bringing them together physically is the way to go.


Hard-drive encryption is becoming more popular. Windows Vista has 
BitLocker, and Macs have had FileVault for a while. Where do you stand 
on encryption? Is America better off with encryption being available to 
lots of people, or should it be restricted?

Garcia: Encryption is one tool among many. DHS needs to continue to 
promote innovation in the private sector. Let the marketplace determine 
what the best tool to use is.


When it comes to being able to prosecute criminals, should there be a 
backdoor to let law enforcement access encrypted files?

Garcia: We don't want to regulate the technological marketplace. We can 
fight technology with technology and use the tools at our disposal.


There will be a second major readiness exercise, CyberStorm II, in March 
next year. Do you know what the focus will be?

Garcia: We had our first planning session a few weeks ago, so that's 
still in the developmental stages. We do want to extend to other 
industry sectors, and we'll bring in more state actors and international 
actors. Exactly what the scenarios are going to be that we'll be 
responding to--that's yet to come.


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