Operational assurance in an increasingly digitally-integrated environment requires resiliency across data, software, hardware and communications networks. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) operations are often conducted in challenging, congested and contested environments across cyber and electromagnetic domains.
DHS is the national lead for protecting and enhancing the security and resilience of the nation’s civilian cyber and communications systems and critical infrastructure. The Department relies on and employs a broad set of communications and computing technologies to accomplish its many missions, which include securing our digital and physical borders, protecting the transportation system, responding to natural disasters and emergencies, and safeguarding our financial systems.
As part of this mission, the Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is focused on assessing and countering the evolving cybersecurity threat landscape that materializes as malicious activity and cybercrime. In addition, law enforcement will need sophisticated cyber tools to prevent, identify, investigate, disrupt, and dismantle criminal enterprises that are increasingly reliant on digital technologies.
As more and more digital capabilities are realized and interconnected, cybersecurity plays a role in ensuring those technologies, such as artificial intelligence, Internet of Things and other sensors, space-based applications, and countless more, are securely leveraged and protected against things like ransomware attacks.
S&T’s focus areas in communications and cyber resiliency are:
- Data-centric Security - We aim to increase the reliability and employability of data for homeland security missions.
- Software and Hardware Assurance - We seek to ensure the resilience of the data, software, and hardware used to execute homeland security mission functions.
- Communications and Network Resiliency - We endeavor to protect and enhance the networks that transport the voice and data between devices/humans and the interconnected software and hardware systems.
News
- Technologically Speaking Podcast: Space Is the Next Big Expansion
- Feature Article: Ensuring Next Generation 911 Interoperability
- DHS Wraps Up Jamming Exercise to Strengthen First Responder Communications
- S&T Developing New 5G, Emergency Communications Security Tools
- Technologically Speaking Podcast: A Cat and Mouse Game
- Technologically Speaking Podcast: Getting Creative About How to Get the Message Through
Resources
- Office for Interoperability and Compatibility Technology Center
- Cybersecurity Threats Technology Center
- S&T Impact: Cybersecurity
- JamX 22
- Secure and Resilient Mobile Network Infrastructure R&D Project
- S&T Technology Centers Division Research Agenda
Contact
Learn more about us and discover how your organization can partner with S&T to make the homeland more secure.