Targets for cyberattacks are closer to home than most people think. The water we drink, the electricity that powers our homes, and the banks that store our money are all prime targets for hackers. Recognizing this ever-changing threat, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) leverages innovation in the cyber arena to keep pace with malicious actors who may seek to damage our critical infrastructure sectors.
The key to being able to defend against cyberattacks is getting the right technologies into the hands of industry, where most of our nation’s cyber infrastructure exists. One way S&T helps DHS facilitate this process is through our Transition to Practice (TTP) program, which identifies promising federally-funded technologies and introduces them to industry during the research and development process.
Last week, at the RSA Conference 2015 in San Francisco, S&T’s Cyber Security Division (CSD) introduced 12 technologies– eight from the TTP program and four from other CSD programs. These technologies seek to advance the private sector’s capabilities on cybersecurity issues such as cloud security, behavioral classification, and threat landscape analysis. The conference is the industry’s largest global information security event where a broad audience—business, government and investors— comes together to discuss security.
Later this summer, on June 9, S&T will present all nine of its 2014 technologies at TTP Technology Demonstration Day for Investors, Integrators, and IT Companies (I3) – West, in Santa Clara, Calif. This technology demonstration will connect cybersecurity investors, integrators, and information technology professionals with the technology developers at the national laboratories with the goal of commercialization-- ultimately improving our nation’s overall cybersecurity posture.
TTP, now in its third year, has 24 technologies ready for transition to the marketplace. Of these, three technologies—Quantum Secured Communication, Hone and Hyperion—have successfully transitioned into the marketplace via open sourcing and commercial licenses. Additionally, within the next few months S&T hopes to add two more technologies into the commercial market. The TTP process normally takes about three years, so we are excited about the work and what we have accomplished in such a short amount of time. We look forward to sharing future innovations in cybersecurity.
To learn more, visit the TTP technology guide for a full listing and description.
Dr. Reginald Brothers
Under Secretary for Science and Technology