bdpatoday® | encryption

NCWF: Public Comments Due 06 JAN 17

WASHINGTON (US-CERT.gov) — The National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) developed the NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework (NCWF) to define the cybersecurity workforce and provide a common taxonomy and lexicon by which to classify, code, and categorize workers.

The Workforce Framework lists and defines over 30 specialty areas and 50 work roles that comprise cybersecurity work and provides a description of each. Each of the types of work is placed into one of the above listed seven overall categories. The NCWF also identifies common tasks and knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA’s) associated with each work role. The NCWF can be used by private, public, and academic industry sectors to describe cybersecurity work and workforces, with related education, training, and professional development.

The NCWF is the output of a collaboration of more than 20 Federal departments, agencies, and numerous engagements with academic and industry organizations.

A draft update to the NICE Framework NIST Special Publication 800-181 is posted for public review, suggestions, and comments. Review with chapters to provide comments before January 6, 2017.

Visit → http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/PubsDrafts.html#SP-800-181

NSA certifies Raytheon encryption

C4ISRNet reports the National Security Agency (NSA) has certified Raytheon’s KG-350 Ethernet encryption system for networks.

The Type 1 certification allows the KG-350 to be used to secure networks handing information up to top secret/sensitive compartmented information (TS/SCI) classification. Certification allows Raytheon to sell the encryptor to commercial, military and government customers immediately.

The KG-350 operates at 100 Mbps, 1 Gbps and 10 Gbps speeds. It can be used on tactical vehicles as well as fixed sites.

– by Michael Peck

Privacy vs. Security – Tech Giants and Feds Weigh In

Amazon, Facebook, Google, Microsoft Back Apple in Court Fight Over Encryption

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – RE/Code reports some of Apple’s fiercest technology rivals have sided with the Cupertino company in its court fight over encryption.

A Who’s Who of the tech sector — 15 companies that include Amazon, Cisco, Facebook, Google and Microsoft — filed a court brief today, speaking out in one voice in a case they describe as of singular importance to the industry.

In the filing, the companies say they share the public’s outrage at the attack that took place in San Bernardino and feel no sympathy for terrorists. Indeed, they collectively respond to tens of thousands of government requests for data to assist in criminal investigations.

But the technology giants say they draw the line at the government’s request in the San Bernardino case, in which law enforcement seeks to “commandeer” Apple’s engineers to undermine the security features of its own products. The companies call on the federal judge to throw out the order that would require Apple to assist investigators in hacking the iPhone used in a recent attack.