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and analysis organizations have matured operational capabilities. In addition, new and
emerging entities are building commensurate capabilities that address the unique needs of each
sector while also collaborating in a cross sector manner.

Instead, addressing the gaps in the architecture and operations of the National Cybersecurity &
Communications Integration Center (NCCIC) to achieve the intended joint, integrated, public –
private, cross sector operational capability should be a priority. Affirming the function of the
NCCIC in recent legislation signed by the President is an important step, and now it is time to
take the next step to drive robust information sharing, analysis and collaboration to achieve
timely, reliable and actionable situational awareness to improve detection, prevention, mitigation
and response to cyber events that could have national or even global consequence. This would
add an analysis function to more rigorously identify abnormal, unusual or even malicious
behavior that could trigger the issuance of alerts and warnings. Additionally, it could even
support distribution of protective measures to a wide range of stakeholders, including critical
infrastructure owners and operators, small and medium sized business, non-profits, federal,
state and local government, and academic institutions.

A collaborative approach that also includes law enforcement and the intelligence community
that relies on established relationships between industry and organizations, including the
NCCIC, FBI and Secret Service, is necessary to achieve the result of improved national security
and resilience.

Maturing a national capability to improve cyber detection, prevention, mitigation and response
that will leverage the lessons learned from the National Weather Service and the Center for
Disease Control, are important steps to making our nation safer and more secure. It can also
teach stakeholders how to better protect themselves in cyberspace through a comprehensive
and sustained national education and awareness campaign.

We should seize the moment of national attention to join together and collaborate to advance
actions steps that will improve cyber protection, security and resilience.

About the Author

Bob Dix is Juniper’s Vice President for Global Government Affairs and
Public Policy. He was Chair of the Partnership for Critical Infrastructure
Security from 2011–2014 and chaired the Information Technology Sector
Coordinating Council from 2008–2009. He has been an active industry
leader in efforts to improve cybersecurity and critical infrastructure
protection for more than 10 years. He served as Staff Director for the
House Subcommittee on Technology & Information Policy during the
108th Congress.

21 Cyber Warnings E-Magazine – January 2015 Edition
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