DHS to open new cybersecurity center

The Homeland Security Department on Friday will open a new cybersecurity center near Washington to house some of the department’s computer defense programs, DHS announced today.

The facility, the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center (NCCIC) will be a unified operations center, DHS said in statement. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano is scheduled speak at the opening ceremony for the NCCIC, located in Arlington, Va.

DHS said the new center will improve national efforts to deal with threats to critical information technology and cyber infrastructure. The center will be a watch and warning center for cybersecurity coordination, DHS said.

Under the government's overall computer security strategy, the department is responsible for protecting the federal government’s civilian .gov domain as well working with industry on cybersecurity efforts.

The NCCIC will include the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team, the National Coordinating Center for Telecommunications, and the National Cyber Security Center, DHS said.