DOD preps security directions

[InfoSec News <isn () c4i org>]

http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2003/0120/web-dodia-01-22-03.asp

By Dan Caterinicchia 
Jan. 23, 2003

A forthcoming Pentagon directive will shed light on how Defense 
Department organizations are expected to ensure information is stored 
on DOD systems adequately.

The Pentagon initially issued a directive last October that gave a 
basic framework for providing information assurance (IA). DOD 
Directive 8500.1, which became effective Oct. 24, 2002, calls for 
information assurance requirements to be identified and included in 
the design, acquisition, installation, operation, upgrade and 
replacement of all DOD information systems. 

DOD Directive 8500.2 will provide more detailed instructions on how to 
carry the preceding policy and how it will be enforced.

The policy is expected to be delivered Jan. 23 to John Stenbit, the 
assistant secretary of Defense for command, control communications and 
intelligence (ASD/C3I) and DOD chief information officer, said Donald 
Jones, a member of the ASD/C3I IA directorate, adding that "with a 
little bit of luck, [8500.2] will be signed within one week."

Directive 8500.1 calls for all DOD components to follow the 
"defense-in-depth" approach to information security, which relies on 
proper operational procedures in conjunction with technologies, such 
as encryption and firewalls, to provide layered protection to all 
computers and networks.

The guidance also addresses supporting IA infrastructures that provide 
capabilities, such as public-key management and incident detection and 
response, according to a DOD spokesperson.

"The guidance was developed largely in response to changing security 
needs brought about by the DOD's growing dependence on interconnected 
information systems, particularly desktop computer networks, and 
increased concern about the protection of unclassified but sensitive 
information," the spokesperson said.

Jones said Directive 8500.1 lays out the policies and Directive 8500.2 
will detail how to "enforce and implement those policies." He added 
that the DOD community has been receptive to the new IA directive and 
feedback has been positive, but everyone is anxiously awaiting the 
instructions.

"The big issue has been to get the instructions out," Jones said. 
"They can't implement the policies in 8500.1 until they get 8500.2…but 
that requires careful coordination" on many levels.

Directive 8500.2 also includes instructions on establishing detailed 
controls on the availability and integrity of DOD Web sites that post 
publicly releasable information, Jones said. 


 

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