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Job Trends: Homeland Security to Hire Up to 1K Cyber Experts
Lolita C. Baldor
October 05, 2009
WASHINGTON – The Obama administration has given a green light to the Homeland Security Department to be more competitive and choosey as it hires up to 1,000 new cyber experts over the next three years, the first major personnel move to fulfill its vow to bolster security of the nation’s computer networks.
The announcement follows a wave of cyber attacks on federal agencies, including a July assault that knocked government Web sites off the Internet and earlier intrusions into the country’s electrical grid.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, who made the announcement on Thursday, said the hiring plan reflects the Obama administration’s commitment to improving cyber security. The move gives DHS officials far greater flexibility to hire whom they want, outside of more stringent federal guidelines. And it will also allow more latitude in pay.
As a result, Napolitano told an audience of cyber industry professionals, the new rules “will allow us to be competitive with you all” in luring quality applicants.
Much of the funding already has been budgeted, but DHS also is working with Congress for more money. Officials refused to say how much money the program would represent.
The hiring push also underscores the administration’s ongoing struggle to better organize and manage the country’s vulnerable digital defense. President Barack Obama vowed in February to tackle cyber issues, but still has not named a cyber coordinator, a job that experts say will be difficult to fill.
Napolitano said her department does not anticipate filling all 1,000 positions, which will include cyber analysts, developers and engineers who can detect, investigate and deter cyber attacks.
The secretary’s announcement marked the start of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, which reflects the White House goal to draw more public attention to the need for everyday computer users to exercise more diligence in protecting their online security.
In other comments, Deputy Defense Secretary William Lynn said the Pentagon expects to make decisions in the coming weeks on whether to relax restrictions on the use of external computer flash drives and social media Web sites by members of the military and department employees.
The Pentagon banned the use of flash drives last November because of a virus threat officials detected on Defense Department networks.
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On the Net:
National Cybersecurity Awareness Month: http://www.dhs.gov/files/programs/gc(underscore)1158611596104.shtm
© 2009, YellowBrix, Inc._
green_ranger
about 1 month ago
8 comments
ya know, this should be where the government forms a militia of nerds as a 2nd line of defense when it comes to cyber security. We may not have the Fancy degrees or connections with the White house, but we sure as hell own a computer and will fight to keep it safe..... AMERKA!!!!!!
Vote4me_CyberNator
about 1 month ago
2 comments
Hey, I'll take the job of cybernator, I don't have anything else to do right now.......
takedaily
about 1 month ago
2 comments
Its funny how you hear about these jobs but thats it..They must be filled with Afgan nationals like every other tech job I used to have..lol
bcbetz
about 1 month ago
2 comments
Bull!!!! No Jobs..
ihatethis
about 1 month ago
26 comments
This will create ZERO jobs. Everyone will apply and get the same old tired D.C. refrain...No security clearence, NO job interview, NO exceptions. How do you get a clearence? Get a job that requires a clearence...which first requires you to HAVE a clearence.
babekane
about 1 month ago
2 comments
We should do all we can to secure, protect , observe our uses in the cyber field out there that is literally swimming in potential threats to our national security on a daily basis and if we're not careful could backfire in our faces when we least expect it and freeze the U.S. right where it stands. It's been long overdue, and about time. We need all the important and critical help we can get and now. Let me comment about the state of our financial markets, banking institutions, investments, etc. while we're on the subject of security in the cyber field. I'd like to know why our credit card companies and others, felt a need to outsource employment positions in places like Manila, Bangalore, India, and so on when these countries have rebels, religious or civil wars, have hidden groups of terroists in the veins of underground criminal activities that continue to flourish in our trusts, our pocket books where it still hurts and dares to call me on a Sunday afternoon to collect a late or overdue payment on my credit card. These people from these far away places know more or they are staring into their computers about my personal information which enables them to know more about me then I do them. They got my social security numbers, know where I live, know my banking or credit information on accounts right at their finger tips. I know I didn't pay them for this, this is why we outsourced? for cheaper labor, then what are we paying these credit companies for besides what we owe them. Then they dare to add those little handouts in our bill statements regarding "confidentiality". So it goes along with that old addage, "you get what you pay for". So it's brought us to this, now we suffer in more ways then one. I would love a job like this, I'm looking for a job like this, I am into protecting the country I live in, these United States of America and proud of it, where do I sign, what college should I apply for?How can I get this education?Please tell me how I can go into battle in this cyber-security war?
dhaas
about 1 month ago
8 comments
I brought up outsourcing because before our industry left the country we had real jobs that actually produced something. That has been blown out of the water so the only jobs people can get are in the government. I don't blame people for resorting to this (they have to feed there families) but this country doesn't need any more policing, despite what the talking heads on TV say. Its not conspiracy theory that the only jobs people can get are government jobs.
I don't have kids either but I would like to. It's the future that I'm talking about. Internet 2, as they call it, is going to be a glorified cable network (all TV stations are owned by 1 of 6 companies). The internet is going to be the same way. But don't listen to me, go along with this. Further the oppression of your own country. Just remember this, history has shown that tyranny is the norm and freedom is a rarity. Don't think that America is immune, especially when the one thing holding freedom together (the constitution) is being ripped apart by the ones entrusted to enforce it.
ccorliss
about 1 month ago
164 comments
I don't have kids, and I really don't care to hear conspiracy theory bs. And where did Outsourcing even come into the picture? Of course I don't support outsourcing, that's one less opportunity for me to make money.
dhaas
about 1 month ago
8 comments
Of course the government pays well, but just because the pay is good doesn't make it right. Look in your spam folder, how many jobs related email do you get about working for Homeland security, the FBI, CIA, the police or the like? This countries new industry is the prison state. Half of the country is going to governmental spies and bureaucrats feeding off the other half that are the producers. The fall of our economy was planned... do you still this outsourcing is all it's cracked up to be?
Watch the video when you have time, its kinda long... not for me but for you and your kids.
ccorliss
about 1 month ago
164 comments
Complain all you want, but this is excellent news for anyone who works in the ISS industry. Working for the government pays well, and has excellent benefits, something that is greatly needed during these times.
dhaas
about 1 month ago
8 comments
Here is a thought... unplug the electrical grid from the internet. How lazy have we become?
This is just the excess the government wants to gain control over the last bit of freedom we have left... the internet. All for safety... you know, slaves are safe. I say no thank you. Anyone who really is thinking about signing up for this better know who you are dealing with...
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1070329053600562261#