US Army Strengthens Forts with New Cybersecurity Alliance

US Army Strengthens Forts with New Cybersecurity Alliance

Summary:

• The U.S. Army is working on stronger cybersecurity for its installations.
• The Army Information Systems Engineering Command (USAISEC) is working with the Installation Management Command (IMCOM).
• The effort uses the Risk Management Framework (RMF) for installation systems.
• The focus is cyber resilience and installation networks.

Overview

Army installations run more than offices. They operate power and water systems. Gates are networked. So are building controls. That gives attackers more ways in. The Army is responding by tightening cybersecurity at the installation level.

Forging a Critical Partnership

The Role of USAISEC

USAISEC is the Army’s engineering command for information systems. It designs and tests Army network gear. Engineering is its job. In this effort, it brings the engineering expertise needed to build security into installation systems from the start.

IMCOM’s Strategic Participation

IMCOM runs the Army’s installations around the world. Bringing cybersecurity into how installations are managed means security becomes part of daily operations. It no longer gets bolted on later.

Implementing the Risk Management Framework

The Risk Management Framework sits at the center of this work. RMF is the process the Defense Department uses to identify, assess and manage risk in its information systems. Systems must be assessed and authorized before they operate. They are then monitored on an ongoing basis.

Strengthening Resilience

For installations, RMF covers things like system integrity and secure communications. Data protection is part of it too. It addresses weaknesses in both technology and procedures. No framework makes a base perfectly secure, but RMF gives a consistent way to find and fix gaps.

Securing the Future

The work is also meant to look ahead. Engineers from both commands plan for threats that are still emerging. That matters. Installation systems often stay in service for many years, long after the threats they were built for have changed.

Getting Ahead of Threats

The goal is prevention. Don’t just react. That means spotting likely threats early. It also means building defenses before they are needed.

The Takeaway

The USAISEC and IMCOM effort shows the Army treating installation cybersecurity as a core mission. Using RMF gives both commands a shared process. Installations should be better prepared to withstand an attack and recover from one.

John King, CISSP, PMP, CISM

John King currently works in the greater Los Angeles area as a ISSO (Information Systems Security Officer). John has a passion for learning and developing his cyber security skills through education, hands on work, and studying for IT certifications.