DHS Website Devoted To Cyber Security Careers and Studies
In an effort to better develop the nation’s human capital in the area of cyber security, the Department of Homeland Security has launched a new web site for cyber security career, education and training information. The online National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies (NICCS) “leverages efforts of government, industry, and academia to provide a comprehensive, single resource to address the nation’s cyber security knowledge needs,” DHS said. “This implementation tool supports the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education, a nationally-coordinated effort that focuses on cyber security awareness, education, workforce structure, and training/professional development.” The website includes sections on staying safe online for businesses and homes, links to curriculums for educators, information on professional careers, a repository of studies and information, and on news and events. The NICCS also plans to host a Community of Practice to promote collaboration between cyber security professionals. The NICCS was developed in partnership between DHS, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the Defense and Education Departments, the National Science Foundation and the Office of Personnel Management.
PNNL Demonstrates Explosives Vapor Detection Technology
Scientists at the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) have developed and demonstrated explosives vapor detection technology that “sniffs” the surface of a material for explosives vapors rather than using surface wipes or pulses of air to dislodge particles for analysis. The scientists used a commercial-off-the-shelf mass spectrometer and integrated it with their own ionization chemistry at the front-end of the system. “We have demonstrated direct, real-time vapor detection for the low-volatility compound RDX, which is used in many types of explosives,” says David Atkinson, senior research scientist at PNNL. The system detects vapors from a fingerprint-sized sample of RDX at levels below 25 parts per quadrillion. The approach involves pulling an air sample stream and ionizing it within a reaction region in an atmospheric flow tube. The ionized sample moves to a mass spectrometer for ion detection and identification. The air samples need no heating or pre-concentrating and analysis occurs in about one second. The system has also demonstrated the detection of explosive compounds such as PETN, nitroglycerine, tetryl, and plastic explosives that contain these materials at low parts per quadrillion levels. PNNL plans additional research to detect other explosive threats by altering the ionization chemistry and lowering detection limits.
Quasar Federal Systems Develops Security Portal
Quasar Federal Systems has integrated a passive magnetic sensing technology into a portal for detecting, and localizing, weapons within a second or two on persons entering buildings and other venues. Unlike most metal detecting systems, QFS’ passive magnetic-based screening systems do not require transmitters to induce electric currents and instead measure changes in the Earth’s magnetic field, isolating environmental interferences without transmitting pulses of magnetic energy. The system achieves increased accuracy and sensitivity within seconds at frequencies will below the environmental magnetic field level, with few false alarms. The system also does not interact with medical devices.
Cognitec Releases Advanced Version of Face Recognition Analytics
Cognitec Systems has release an advanced version of its FaceVACS-VideoScan system that employs anonymous face recognition technology to analyze the count, flow and demographics of people visible in video streams while protecting privacy and data security. The company says the system detects people’s faces in live video streams or video footage and stores anonymous information for each appearance in front of a camera. The system will provide an alarm if too many people gather in a specific area, it will measure waiting times to direct traffic, it can allow real-time comparison of faces to image databases to instantly find known individuals.