The United States Department of Defense and The Department of Homeland Security have created a pilot program (DIB Cyber Pilot) to help investigate and police cyberspace. With the assistance of multiple private contractors and their ISPs (Internet Service Providers), the collaboration will build knowledge on cyber security risks and help better protect against the growing propensity for malicious cyber-attacks to important private and governmental systems. This move correlates with the flux of hacks and phishing scams that have received noticeable attention of late.

Deputy Secretary of Defense William J. Lynn spoke at the Annual International Workshop on Global Security stating, “We learned this lesson in 2008 when a foreign intelligence agency used a thumb drive to penetrate our classified computer systems—something we thought was impossible. It was our worst fear: a rogue program operating silently on our system, poised to deliver operational plans into the hands of an enemy”. With technology continuing to evolve, the move by the DOD and DHS to create an oversight program will help manage these sort of problems.

The DIB Cyber Pilot program is not intended to monitor, intercept of store private sector communications. Rather, according to William J. Lynn, the program will serve to protect against three distinct types of cyber threats. The first is suspected government-backed hacks of private and military networks. Second, more frequent and current disruptive attacks by hacking groups like Lulzsec or Anonymous. And Finally, ones that target critical infrastructure and military networks.