Securing our nation against cyber-attacks has become one of the nation's highest priorities.  Cyberattacks can have instant, wide-ranging consequences and no country, industry, community, or individual is immune.  Public safety relies on communications, and the advent of wireless communications and interagency data sharing has raised concerns about the security of that critical information.  Cyber security involves protecting that information by preventing, detecting and responding to attacks.

NPSTC continues to monitor work being done in this important area, including representation on the FCC's Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council (CSRIC).  The purpose of the Council is to provide recommendations to the FCC regarding ways it can strive for security, reliability, and interoperability of communications systems.  CSRIC's recommendations focus on a range of public safety and homeland security related communications matters including the reliability of communications systems and infrastructure, 911, Enhanced 911 (E911), and Next Generation 911 (NG911), emergency alerting, and national security/emergency preparedness (NS/EP) communications, including law enforcement access to communications.

Other organizations whose work we are monitoring are the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), SAFECOM, and Science and Technology Cyber Security Division which supports DHS component operational and critical infrastructure protections which include:  the finance, energy, and public utility sectors, as well as the first responder community.  DHS helps a variety of end-users understand and use emerging cyber-capabilities, such as block chain and the Internet of Things, to enhance the security and resilience of the nation's critical information infrastructure and the internet.

NPSTC has developed a Cybersecurity Working Group within the Technology committee to develop best practices and studies for the community.  You can join the Cyber Security working group by clicking here:  https://www.npstc.org/outreachConnect.jsp.