Idaho National Laboratory – Assistant Secretary Schaffer dedicates Industrial Control Systems Cyber Emergency Response Team capability

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today officially launched the Industrial Control Systems Cyber Emergency Response Team (ICS-CERT) http://csrp.inl.gov/Documents/final-RP_ics_cybersecurity_incident_response_100609.pdf coordination center with a dedication ceremony led by DHS Assistant Secretary for Cybersecurity and Communications Greg Schaffer in Idaho Falls, Idaho. The ICS-CERT is the nation’s first dedicated response center aimed at reducing the frequency and effect of cyber attacks on industrial control systems.

The ICS-CERT was created earlier this year to coordinate global efforts and respond to cyber vulnerabilities and threats affecting the industrial control systems that operate critical infrastructure and key resources. Industrial control systems include supervisory control and data acquisition, process control, distributed control and other digital devices that monitor and manage critical operations within chemical facilities, oil and gas refineries, power plants, and many more.

The ICS-CERT addresses security threats to control systems and provides a means to share information across all sectors. Additionally, the ICS-CERT is one of the principal components of the Strategy to Secure Control Systems, providing a central mechanism for coordinating incident response and stakeholder efforts to effectively manage cybersecurity risk.

Located at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) http://www.inl.gov and managed by the DHS Control Systems Security Program (CSSP), the response team will monitor, collect and analyze cyber incidents reported by industrial control systems researchers and developers, owners and operators, and manufacturers from industry, government and academia.

"This facility will serve an important and critical role in ensuring we are prepared, aware and capable of protecting our networks and defending our critical infrastructures going forward," Schaffer said at the dedication.

The ICS-CERT dedication occurred during the same week of the Industrial Control Systems Joint Working Group Conference in Idaho Falls. The ICSJWG is also operated by the DHS CSSP to provide a formal mechanism to share information and foster the coordination of activities and programs across government and private sector stakeholders.

INL is one of the DOE’s 10 multiprogram national laboratories. The laboratory performs work in each of DOE’s strategic goal areas: energy, national security, science and environment. INL is the nation’s leading center for nuclear energy research and development. Day-to-day management and operation of the laboratory is the responsibility of Battelle Energy Alliance.

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