The Department of Homeland Security’s Status
Introduction
Homeland security has taken significant measures to ensure a safe and stable cyberspace. It is its responsibility to brief the cybersecurity in the United States of America. It has developed standards for cyber incidents (Homeland, 2022). For instance, in any cyber security incident, they must handle the threat and asset response, collaborating with other agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National Cyber Investigative Joint Task Force (NCIJTF) to respond to the threat. Homeland Security has developed its agencies, Secret Security and the ICE, whose functions are investigating transnational crime (Beckner, 2021). They are used to analyze and catch the criminal masterminds behind cyber-attacks. This strategy effectively cuts or reduces the number of cyber-attacks in the United States.
Discussion
Homeland security has devised new ways of detecting intrusions, preventing intrusions, and analyzing third-party information-sharing capabilities of civilian information. Frequently are, the agencies’ databases hacked, and civilian information is leaked by cyber attackers (Beckner, 2021). Bank accounts, social security numbers, the precise location of residences, and other critical information are revealed, putting civilians’ lives in danger. Therefore, Homeland Security has formed a National Cybersecurity Protection System, which includes software, hardware, processes that support the mission, and the necessary personnel training to work efficiently (Homeland, 2022). This is effective because the software, by detecting a cyber-attack, can track the hacker’s location.
Department of Homeland Security, National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD), and Office of Cybersecurity and Communications have developed a cybersecurity indicator that effectively shares Cyber threats in time across all federal and non-federal agencies. The force then comes up with defensive measures to protect the national and non-federal interties information systems from cyber security threats, mitigate them and collaborate with other law enforcement to catch the criminal behind them (Farid, 2020). Using the Department of Homeland infrastructure, the above agencies have a centralized way to be informed about cyber-attacks and develop a defense mechanism to counter them. This has been effective since all law enforcement entities are well informed on the timely cyber-attacks to control the damage before it poses more threats.
It is the responsibility of the Department of Homeland Security to protect the borders against illegal entry and exit of weapons, contraband, drugs, and other smuggled goods. Therefore, Homeland Security has designed ways to promote lawful trade, economic prosperity, and national sovereignty (Homeland, 2022). It has developed metrics to measure the security of entry and exit areas as they measure the integrity and effectiveness of security protocols in the air and marine borders to enhance protection. In addition, they give thorough evaluations of the strengths and limitations of the department’s methodological approaches to improve where necessary. This has effectively improved the security of the borders, reducing the entry of illegal goods.
Homeland Security has developed an effective process to accommodate non-citizens and place them in suitable locations along with demographic information. The Department of Homeland provided a statement about the admission of new Venezuelan nationals under this new process. First, they ensured security was enhanced at the borders for illegible Venezuela to enter the United States (Homeland, 2022). The process eliminates all illegal entries into the country. Later on, the screening and vetting of the Venezuelans took place. They were therefore considered illegible to book flights to and from the United States. This process is effective since there is proper documentation of those allowed into the country and considered harmless.
The Homeland Security Department’s responsibility is to protect individuals from human trafficking. It has come up with tactics to counter human smugglers in the country. Joe Biden’s administration launched a “Counter Human Smuggler” project, a one-of-a-kind operation to catch human traffickers led by the Department of Homeland Security (Homeland, 2022). The process targeted the critical aspects of functions such as financial assets, territories of operations, and their main activities. This forced the smugglers to change their operational routes and move their stash houses and locations where they held their assets far from the border. Due to the arrests, Homeland Security has been able to disrupt its operations and infrastructure. Through the Counter Human Smuggler, they have pushed these organizations out of business and enhanced the security of the people in the United States.
Conclusion
Homeland security has devised tactics to avert disaster and crisis before much destruction and loss occurs. The Federal Emergency Management and Preparedness Agency(FEMA) serves in a coordination and integration role. They collaborate with the agency’s local, state, federal, tribal, private sector, and non-profit partners before, during, and after disasters to ensure that all survivors are included, and their needs are met (Farid, 2020). The DHS has made significant progress in responding to various threats, from natural disasters to coordinated attacks. The FEMA has taken control in the following ways: Establishing and Improving a Unified Incident, establishing a command system, stabilizing the Disaster Emergency Communications (DEC), building nuclear, radiological, and biological preparedness and response measures, ensuring private sector preparedness through training and awareness, and allocating Homeland Security funding based on risk. These measures are enough to avert a disaster or crisis.
References
Beckner, C. (2021). Reassessing Homeland Security Intelligence: A Review of the DHS Office of Intelligence and Analysis. Center for a New American Security. Web.
Farid, Hany. “‘Disinformation Online and a Country in Crisis.” (2020).
News. (2022). Homeland Security. Web.