World Wide Threat Assessment 2014
Last week, DNI Clapper appeared before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence to give his annual World Wide Threat Assessment. Once again cyber leads the list of most significant threats -- ahead of terrorism -- and the highlight is the IC's assessment that the likelihood of destructive attacks that delete data or break machinery is increasing. Three other aspects of the assessment struck me quite forcefully as also worth noting:
- First, the report acknowledges the threats
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Last week, DNI Clapper appeared before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence to give his annual World Wide Threat Assessment. Once again cyber leads the list of most significant threats -- ahead of terrorism -- and the highlight is the IC's assessment that the likelihood of destructive attacks that delete data or break machinery is increasing. Three other aspects of the assessment struck me quite forcefully as also worth noting:
- First, the report acknowledges the threats that arise from the growth of the "internet of things." It particularly calls out vulnerabilities in the health care sector. The DNI says that "cyber vulnerabilities may play unanticipated roles in patient outcomes" which is official-speak for "heart monitors can be hacked to kill people."
- Second, the report highlights the benefits of 3-D printing to manufacturing but notes that it may "revolutionize aspects of underground criminal activity."
- Third, and most surprisingly, the structure of the report suggests that the DNI views counterintelligence problems as a greater threat than WMD or Organized Crime. And within counterintelligence, the first item listed is "insider threats." As the DNI writes: "Trusted insiders with the intent to do harm can exploit their access to compromise vast amounts of sensitive and classified information as part of a personal ideology or at the direction of a foreign government. The unauthorized disclosure of this information to state adversaries, non state activists, or other entities will continue to pose a critical threat." Wonder who he means???
Paul Rosenzweig is the founder of Red Branch Consulting PLLC, a homeland security consulting company and a Senior Advisor to The Chertoff Group. Mr. Rosenzweig formerly served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy in the Department of Homeland Security. He is a Professorial Lecturer in Law at George Washington University, a Senior Fellow in the Tech, Law & Security program at American University, and a Board Member of the Journal of National Security Law and Policy.
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