DHS Launches National Cybersecurity Awareness Campaign Challenge

March 5, 2010

The DHS' National Cybersecurity Awareness Campaign Challenge is a new initiative that calls on cybersecurity experts and individuals across the country to develop innovative new ways to enhance public awareness about the importance of safeguarding America's computer systems and cyber networks from attacks by terrorists and criminals.

"All Americans have an important role to play in securing our computer systems and cyber networks," said Secretary Napolitano. "We are challenging our nation's best and brightest to utilize their expertise and creativity to devise new ways to engage the public in the shared responsibility of safeguarding our cyber resources and information."

The Challenge invites cybersecurity experts and members of the public alike to submit creative ideas for improving the public's cybersecurity awareness and cyber literacy. Proposals must be submitted by April 30 via www.dhs.gov/cyberchallenge, and winners will collaborate with the Department to develop and launch the National Cybersecurity Awareness Campaign.

Secretary Napolitano announced the initiative during her remarks at RSA Conference in San Francisco, where she emphasized her commitment to partnering with her colleagues in Congress, the private sector and across the Obama administration to clarify and strengthen public and private sector cybersecurity and cyber resiliency—including more strongly aligning the Department's cyber and physical infrastructure protection efforts and making DHS a clearer focal point for cybersecurity within the federal government.

In her remarks, Secretary Napolitano stressed the Department's dedication to recruiting and retaining the talented cybersecurity employees needed to confront terrorist and criminal threats and underscored her continued commitment to supporting the latest cybersecurity innovations—including the ongoing deployment of the EINSTEIN system to better identify malicious cyber activity, enhance situational awareness and improve cybersecurity support across government.

Secretary Napolitano also highlighted DHS' close collaboration with the private sector to protect the nation-s critical infrastructure and cyber networks—including the current development of a National Cybersecurity Incident Response Plan; the training of more than 14,000 critical infrastructure protection professionals through the Control Systems Security Program; and regular consultation with cybersecurity stakeholders across the country.