The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) today announced plans to establish the National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence and partner with both public and private sector to improve defenses against attackers.
The center is being co-sponsored by NIST, the state of Maryland and Montgomery County, Md. According to an announcement, the goal is to develop interoperable cybersecurity approaches for challenges facing organizations, including interoperable templates to address problems in health IT, cloud computing, mobile computing, cryptography and other areas.
“We’re standing up for the National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence to protect America’s ideas and innovations from cyber terrorists, spies and thieves,” Sen. Barbara Mikulsk, (D-Md.) said in a statement. “This center will unite the knowledge of the government with the know-how of the private sector to improve our nation’s cybersecurity and create jobs. I was so proud to put money in the federal checkbook so this new center will ensure Maryland continues to lead the way in cyber technology and cyber jobs.”
NIST’s fiscal year 2012 appropriations provided $10 million to establish the public-private partnership that will operate the center, which will include a computing facility near NIST’s Gaithersburg, Md., campus. The computing facility will be a site where researchers from NIST will work collaboratively with both the users and vendors of cybersecurity products and services, according to NIST.
“Cyber crime hurts individuals, businesses and government agencies. We want to bring together the best minds and provide them with the best tools to create and test solutions that will make online transactions of all kinds safer,” said NIST Director Patrick Gallagher in a statement. “We’re pleased to have the support of our Maryland partners, and look forward to working with additional partners from industry, academia, nonprofit and government sectors.”
By accelerating the adoption of state-of-the-art cybersecurity tools, NIST says the center will enhance trust in U.S. IT communications, data and storage systems and reduce risk for companies using IT systems, as well as encourage development of innovative, job-creating cybersecurity products and services.
Organizations interested in working with NIST, the State of Maryland, and Montgomery County at the new center should contact the NIST via email at to nccoe@nist.gov.