DHS Wants to Use Data Science to Improve Threat Detection

The Department of Homeland Security wants to devote more research and development to data science, according to a new plan to better secure U.S. critical infrastructure. 

DHS last week released a list of top priorities for "critical infrastructure security and resilience" R&D, including "harness[ing] the power of data sciences" to protect both physical and virtual systems from attack, including by explosions, chemicals, biological agents, nuclear devices or cyberattack. 

Though most priorities listed were very broad -- including to "develop the foundational understanding of critical infrastructure systems" -- the plan emphasizes DHS' intent to use information technology to automatically prevent and respond to threats in real time.

The plan is required under a 2013 presidential directive, which directed DHS to study "the evolving threat landscape" and come up with "annual metrics," according to the plan. 

In the plan, DHS emphasized using "real-time diagnostic and anomaly detection capabilities" in threat response, so systems can "respond to threats and incorporate protective countermeasures that deploy with or without human intervention."

DHS did not respond to Nextgov’s request for more details on the broad outline. 

The National Science and Technology Council plans to create a subcommittee overseeing the "critical infrastructure security and resilience R&D" effort. Within 60 days of its creation, DHS plans to start writing an "implementation road map" for the plan.