Kicking It Off

Welcome to the Cybersecurity Report, a joint effort from the SANS Institute and Nextgov. This blog will become a source of information to different kinds of computer users. Policy, breaking news, and emerging attack vectors will be a few of the many areas touched here.

Being that I'm associated with SANS, a cybersecurity training school, I'll have unprecedented access to some of the world's foremost cybersecurity experts and their latest analysis and research. This blog will focus on the exotic threats as much it touches on the bigger picture, virulent ones. Users who boot up to surf the Web and scan Facebook will find information to help them protect themselves. Government chief information officers and chief information security officers will find information on the latest cybersecurity happenings in and around the public and private sectors. Policymakers will find information, reaction and analysis on legislative proposals. But most important, this blog will be a place for an ongoing dialog.

I'll respond to comments and questions. I'll host open forums and live online discussions. There will be contests and awards for useful reader tips and analysis. This isn't a unilateral exchange. To advance the understanding and implementation of cybersecurity, discussion of the mercurial threats will have to be ongoing.

I learned from blogging, writing and Web producing for The Washington Post that blogs are the right place to share information and advance important conversations. It leaves more time for decision makers to focus on implementation. In the words of Philip Reitinger, deputy undersecretary of National Protection and Programs Directorate at the Homeland Security Department, the best way to improve government and worldwide information sharing "is to stop having philosophical conversations about information sharing." Let's allow the philosophical conversations to live here.

In the meantime, if anyone has feedback or questions, please get busy in the comments field.