With cyber threats on the rise and rapid advances in technology outpacing the ability of local law enforcement to keep up, there is a need for more training and education of local responders in coping with cyber security needs and there is also a shortage of funds to do so, police and fire officials told a House panel on Thursday.
“The pace at which technology continues to advances is currently outpacing law enforcement’s ability to educate its workforce to recognize and address cybercrime activity,” Lt. Richard Wilson of the Dallas Police Department and director of the Dallas Fusion Center, said in his prepared remarks at a field hearing in Texas of the House Homeland Security Cybersecurity Subcommittee. “For those officials that do recognize the necessity to increase security infrastructures, and choose to develop or subscribe to cyber protection programs, the costs associated with these efforts often compete with funds required to maintain other essential tasks within the organizations, where the impact from these other functions can be more readily counted and observed by such measures as crime rates and response times to calls for service.”
Wilson added that in instances where local departments provide funding to hire personnel trained in cyber security practices and techniques, they often can’t compete financially with private companies and federal agencies seeking the same personnel.
Sam Greif, chief of the Plano, Texas, Fire and Rescue Department, who testified on behalf of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, said with attempts to deny 9-1-1 service and recent cyber attacks against hospitals in several areas of the country, “The fire and emergency service is just beginning to recognize how these threats can affect our operations.”
Grief stated in his prepared remarks that the Department of Homeland Security should make sure that cyber threat information and how to prepare for cyber threats should be shared with the fire and emergency service via the Homeland Security Information Network. He also said that in addition to cyber security training that can be done at the local level, DHS can help local emergency management agencies through the development of education and training capabilities.
Grief recommended against cuts proposed by the Obama administration to grant programs that support state and local responders, and fusion centers.
Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-Texas), chairman of the subcommittee, stated that it is “alarming” the number cyber vulnerabilities facing state and local agencies, adding that “It is vital that state and local law enforcement, prosecutors and judges be properly trained to respond to cyber crime and protect the American people.”