The President of the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) was recently featured by Governing Magazine as he made the case for our nation making significant investments in the "invisible infrastructure." Gopal Khanna, who is also the chief information officer for the state of Minnesota, makes a compelling case that includes security components.
The Governing Magazine article, Investing in the Invisible Infrastructure, is well worth reading by both public and private sector professionals. Here are a few excerpts:
"...Just as bricks and mortar were the foundation of our nation's economic vitality during the 20th century, our Digital Cyber Complex will support our competitive advantage in the 21st century.... "
"Recognizing the increased interdependence between IT and other critical infrastructure, the growing use of electronic automation, and the critical importance of technology itself as a source and enabler of economic wealth raises several issues regarding the adequacy of digital security:
(1) Reduced personnel at remote sites make them more vulnerable to attack.
(2) Interconnecting automation and control systems with public data networks make them potentially accessible to individuals and organizations from anywhere in the world using an inexpensive computer and a modem.
(3) Use of unsecure networked electronic systems for metering, scheduling, trading or e-commerce imposes numerous financial risks."
Gopal makes an excellent case, but he is not alone. The Internet Security Alliance (ISAlliance) recently proposed that we adopt a new Cyber Security Social Contract. Others have called for the federal government's new economic stimulus plan to include various improvements in cyberspace.
What are your views?
We are clearly beyond the point of asking whether to invest. The question now is how to make the most prudent investments in times of dwindling resources.
In government, we have historically made our investments agency by agency and state by state. That investment strategy has resulted in the fragmented and ineffective security infrastructure that we have today, filled with "haves" and "have nots".
The fact of the matter is that there simply is not enough money to address our security challenges silo by silo. If governments truly start to unite, I see a future where all entities can achieve the level of security that citizens expect and deserve. But that will mean that lots of folks - particularly the haves - will need to step out of their comfort zone. It also will mean that government leaders will need to show more leadership than we have seen to date.
As the security leader of a state government, people constantly tell me that it is too difficult for states to craft joint deals with local units of government, the federal government, and other states. There are too many rules, too many lawyers, and too much red tape. That is all true. But I for one am ready to change that paradigm and I hope that others are ready to join me. There is too much at stake to keep playing the same game by the same rules.
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