TheUS Department of Homeland Securityis
this week conducting the largestcybersecurity exerciseever organised,
with the UK participating.
Cyber Storm II started this Monday and will end this Friday. It
is taking place in Washington DC, and is bringing together federal,
state and local governments, the private sector and international
participants.
The exercise will simulate a co-ordinated cyberattack on
information technology, communications, chemical and transportation
systems.
"Securing cyberspace is vital to maintaining America's strategic
interests, public safety and economic prosperity," said Greg
Garcia, Homeland Security assistant secretary for cybersecurity and
communications.
"Exercises like Cyber Storm II help to ensure that the public
and private sectors are prepared for an effective response to
attacks against our critical systems and networks."
Cyber Storm II will include 18 federal departments and agencies,
nine US states, four other countries - Australia, Canada, New
Zealand and the UK - and more than 40 private companies. These
include ABB, Air Products, Cisco, Dow Chemical Company, Harris
Corporation, Juniper Networks, McAfee, Microsoft, NeuStar, PPG
Industries and Wachovia.