Center Stage
The Bush administration last week announced plans to establish a central office to coordinate the government's response to cybersecurity attacks
Key players in the cybersecurity information coordination center:
n Richard Clarke. Named President Bush's cyberspace security adviser and chairman of the Critical Infrastructure Protection Board in October 2001. Reports to both Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge and National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice on information security issues.
n National Infrastructure Protection Center. Established in 1998 as the focal point for threat assessment, warning, investigation and response for threats or attacks against the country's critical infrastructures, which include telecommunications, banking and finance, and government operations. Central contact for industry.
n Critical Infrastructure Assurance Office. Created by President Clinton in 1998 to serve as policy support for efforts — including creation of a national security plan — under Presidential Decision Directive 63, which requires agencies to secure the information systems that support the nation's critical infrastructures. Expanded under the Critical Infrastructure Protection Executive Order signed by President Bush in October 2001 to lead outreach efforts.
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