Big Data could be a key component of a Homeland Security Department plan to improve cybersecurity for federal agencies, according to a White House report.
The report, “Big Data: Seizing Opportunities, Preserving Values,” is a progress report on implementing the recommendations of the Big Data and Privacy Working Group. DHS, the report noted, is looking across government to identify opportunities to use Big Data analytics to strengthen cybersecurity.
Exactly what those opportunities might be is not spelled out in the report. However, an article in NextGov cites Phyllis Schneck, deputy undersecretary for cybersecurity and communications for DHS’ National Protection and Programs Directorate, who said the department is performing mathematical trend analyses of cyber events, using data it gathers from agencies.
“This concept comprises the ability to view the current state of cybersecurity, just as a traditional weather map provides the view of current weather,” Schneck said. “Our goal for networks for connected devices is to know when to, in real-time, just reject incoming traffic — much of which carries the malware these days — due to its current behavior.”
