WASHINGTON - A legislative provision authored by U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and passed by the Senate will ensure America is fully prepared to prevent future cyber attacks.
The legislation would require a full assessment of the military's needs for additional cyber security personnel and training to strengthen U.S. preparedness.
The language was included in the Defense Reauthorization Bill that passed the Senate and will now go on to the president for his signature.
"Cyber security is a top priority for our national security and by devoting more attention to exploring our technological vulnerabilities and mounting aggressive defenses against cyber attack and cyber terrorism have become a national security imperative," the senator said.
The language included in the defense bill would require the Secretary of Defense to submit a report to Congress that would specifically include:
An assessment of the military's needs for additional security personnel and training.
The training and career development process for cyber security professionals.
Incentive programs to recruit and retain cyber personnel and potential obstacles to recruitment.
The effectiveness of education and outreach efforts to attract cyber personnel.
The use of civilian and military personnel to fulfill cyber security needs.
Efforts to coordinate with private sector and industry resources and establish public-private partnerships to improve the availability of cyber personnel.
According to some estimates, the senator says, government and industry currently have less than 1,000 highly skilled cyber security experts, with the need as high as 20,000 to 30,000 individuals capable of protecting the nation's networks.
A report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies stated that a growing number of terrorists and international criminals are targeting U.S. citizens, commerce and the information infrastructure of America.
This includes the Internet, telecommunications networks, computer systems, embedded processors and controllers in critical industries to steal, exploit, disrupt or destroy information.
"Cyber exploitation activity has grown more sophisticated and targeted over the past year and is expected to increase," the senator said.