Cybersecurity Resources for Transit Agencies FTA

CISA did conduct an initial assessment of its cybersecurity workforce in 2019; however, it is still working on analyzing capability gaps and determining how to best fill those gaps. Finally, CISA did not address the practice of ensuring that its employee performance management system was aligned with its new organizational structure and transformation goals. Until it fully addresses workforce planning and the five other practices that are either partially or not addressed, CISA’s ability to leverage its organizational changes to effectively carry out its mission will be hindered.

Federal legislation enacted in November 2018 established CISA to advance the mission of protecting federal civilian agencies' networks from cyber threats and to enhance the security of the nation's critical infrastructures in the face of both physical and cyber threats. To implement this legislation, CISA undertook a three-phase organizational transformation initiative aimed at unifying the agency, improving mission effectiveness, and enhancing the workplace experience for CISA employees. FTA provides financial support for some grant recipients’ cybersecurity activities and supports the U.S. Additionally, as a condition of federal assistance, under 49 U.S.C. 5323, rail transit operators must certify that they have a process to develop, maintain, and execute a plan for identifying and reducing cybersecurity risks. On November 16, 2018, President Trump signed into law the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Act of 2018, which elevated the mission of the former NPPD within DHS, establishing the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency .

The Secretary of Homeland Security shall biennially designate a Chair and Deputy Chair of the Board from among the members of the Board, to include one Federal and one private-sector member. Within 60 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Commerce acting through the Director of NIST, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense acting through the Director of the NSA, shall publish guidelines recommending minimum standards for Agency Cybersecurity vendors’ testing of their software source code, including identifying recommended types of manual or automated testing . Heads of FCEB Agencies that are unable to fully adopt multi-factor authentication and data encryption within 180 days of the date of this order shall, at the end of the 180-day period, provide a written rationale to the Secretary of Homeland Security through the Director of CISA, the Director of OMB, and the APNSA.

It also requires DHS to transfer the Federal Protective Service to an appropriate DHS component, directorate, or office following the completion of an ongoing Government Accountability Office review. Cybersecurity shares its roots with the digitization of everything and that is the perfect avenue for you to capitalize on. We our experts of digital PR, social media marketing and all things pertaining to the internet. Our deep experience with cybersecurity brands can help you claim share of voice from competitors in key topical areas.

He specifically highlighted the importance of the transition to post-quantum encryption algorithms pointing out that the transition is as much dependent on the development of such algorithms as it is on their adoption. The government and industry must prepare for it now to protect the confidentiality of data that already exists today and remains sensitive in the future. Most of the actions outlined in the Executive Order are to be implemented by the Department of Homeland Security, namely CISA. In addition, Congress provided CISA with new authorities in the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act and with a down payment to improve the protection of civilian federal government networks with the funding provided through the American Rescue Plan. This ongoing priority will therefore focus on implementing the Executive Order, the NDAA, and the funding provided by Congress in an effective and timely manner.

Dr. David Mussington serves as the Executive Assistant Director for Infrastructure Security at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency as of February 19, 2021. In this role, Mussington leads CISA’s efforts to secure the nation’s critical infrastructure in coordination with government and the private sector. Key areas of focus include vulnerability and risk assessments; securing soft targets and crowded places; training and exercises; and securing high-risk chemical facilities. 500.19 – To qualify, a Covered Entity must be an employee, agent, representative or designee of another Covered Entity and all aspects of the employee’s, agent’s, representative’s, or designee’s business must be fully covered by the Cybersecurity Program of the other Covered Entity. Under this exemption, individuals and entities will be required to identify the regulated entity whose program they are following and provide the name of an appropriate representative who can confirm the individual or entity is fully covered by that cybersecurity program. Some important considerations include, but are not limited to, what business the acquired company engages in, the target company's risk for cybersecurity including its availability of Personally Identifiable Information, the safety and soundness of the Covered Entity, and the integration of data systems.

GCA has created aCybersecurity Toolkit for Small Businessthat contains a set of free tools, guidance, resources, and training for small businesses. Each Covered Entity is required to submit a Certification of Compliance to the Department and is not required to submit explanatory or additional materials with that certification. The Cybersecurity Regulation does require Covered Entities to maintain records, schedules, and data that support the certification for 5 years, should the Department request such information in the future. Likewise, under 23 NYCRR Section 500.17, to the extent a Covered Entity has identified areas, systems, or processes that require material improvement, updating or redesign, the Covered Entity must document such efforts and maintain such schedules and documentation for inspection during the examination process or as otherwise requested by the Department.

The portions of records made confidential and exempt in subsections and shall be available to the Auditor General, the Cybercrime Office of the Department of Law Enforcement, the Florida Digital Service within the department, and, for agencies under the jurisdiction of the Governor, the Chief Inspector General. Such portions of records may be made available to a local government, another state agency, or a federal agency for cybersecurity purposes or in furtherance of the state agency’s official duties. Establishing the managerial, operational, and technical safeguards for protecting state government data and information technology resources that align with the state agency risk management strategy and that protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information and data. The recovery may include recommended improvements to the agency processes, policies, or guidelines. Cyber terrorists, as well as hackers of all sorts, are turning to the internet to wreak havoc.