The United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) was a team under the
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency of the
Department of Homeland Security
The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is the U.S. federal executive department responsible for public security, roughly comparable to the interior, home, or public security ministries in other countries. Its missions invol ...
.
On February 24, 2023, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) retired US-CERT and ICS-CERT, integrating CISA’s operational content into a new CISA.gov website that better unifies CISA's mission. CISA continues to be responsible for coordinating cybersecurity programs within the U.S. government to protect against malicious cyber activity, including activity related to industrial control systems. In keeping with this responsibility, CISA continues responding to incidents, providing technical assistance, and disseminating timely notifications of cyber threats and vulnerabilities.
US-CERT was a branch of the
National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center of the Office of Cybersecurity and Communications.
US-CERT was responsible for analyzing and reducing cyber threats, vulnerabilities, disseminating cyber threat warning information, and coordinating incident response activities.
The division brought advanced network and digital media analysis expertise to bear on malicious activity targeting the networks within the United States and abroad.
Background
The concept of a national Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) for the United States was proposed by Marcus Sachs (
Auburn University
Auburn University (AU or Auburn) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 26,800 undergraduate students, over 6,100 post-graduate students, and a tota ...
) when he was a staff member for the
U.S. National Security Council in 2002 to be a peer organization with other national CERTs such as
AusCERT and CERT-UK, and to be located in the then forthcoming
Department of Homeland Security
The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is the U.S. federal executive department responsible for public security, roughly comparable to the interior, home, or public security ministries in other countries. Its missions invol ...
(DHS). At the time the United States did not have a national CERT.
Amit Yoran (
Tenable, Inc., CEO), DHS's first Director of the National Cyber Security Division, launched the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) in September 2003 to protect the
Internet
The Internet (or internet) is the Global network, global system of interconnected computer networks that uses the Internet protocol suite (TCP/IP) to communicate between networks and devices. It is a internetworking, network of networks ...
infrastructure of the United States by coordinating defense against and responding to
cyber-attacks. The first Director of the US-CERT was Jerry Dixon (
CrowdStrike, CISO); with the team initially staffed with cybersecurity experts that included Mike Witt (
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agencies of the United States government, independent agency of the federal government of the United States, US federal government responsible for the United States ...
, CISO), Brent Wrisley (Punch Cyber, CEO), Mike Geide (Punch Cyber, CTO), Lee Rock (
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational corporation and technology company, technology conglomerate headquartered in Redmond, Washington. Founded in 1975, the company became influential in the History of personal computers#The ear ...
, SSIRP Crisis Lead), Chris Sutton (
Export-Import Bank of the United States, CISO & CPO), Jay Brown (
USG, Senior Exec Cyber Operations), Mark Henderson (
IRS
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the revenue service for the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government, which is responsible for collecting Taxation in the United States, U.S. federal taxes and administerin ...
, Online Cyber Fraud), Josh Goldfarb (Security Consultant), Mike Jacobs (
Treasury
A treasury is either
*A government department related to finance and taxation, a finance ministry; in a business context, corporate treasury.
*A place or location where treasure, such as currency or precious items are kept. These can be ...
, Director/Chief of Operations), Rafael Nunez (
DHS/
CISA), Ron Dow (
General Dynamics, Senior Program Mgr), Sean McAllister (Network Defense Protection, Founder), Kevin Winter (
Deloitte, CISO-Americas), Todd Helfrich (Attivo, VP), Monica Maher (
Goldman Sachs
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. ( ) is an American multinational investment bank and financial services company. Founded in 1869, Goldman Sachs is headquartered in Lower Manhattan in New York City, with regional headquarters in many internationa ...
, VP Cyber Threat Intelligence), Reggie McKinney (
VA) and several other cybersecurity experts. In January 2007, Mike Witt was selected as the US-CERT Director, who was then followed by
Mischel Kwon (Mischel Kwon and Associates) in June 2008. When
Mischel Kwon departed in 2009, a major reorganization occurred which created the
National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center (NCCIC).
US-CERT was the 24-hour operational arm of the NCCIC which accepts, triages, and collaboratively responds to incidents, provides technical assistance to information system operators, and disseminates timely notifications regarding current and potential security threats,
exploits, and
vulnerabilities to the public via its National Cyber Awareness System (NCAS).
US-CERT operated side-by-side with the Industrial Control Systems Computer Emergency Response Team (ICS-CERT) which deals with security related to
industrial control systems. Both entities operated together within NCCIC to provide a single source of support to
critical infrastructure stakeholders.
Capabilities
There were five operational aspects which enabled US-CERT to meet its objectives of improving the nation’s cybersecurity posture, coordinate cyber information sharing, and proactively manage cyber risks while protecting the constitutional rights of Americans.
Threat Analysis and information sharing
This feature is involved with reviewing, researching,
vetting
Vetting is the process of performing a background check on someone before offering them employment, conferring an award, or doing fact-checking prior to making any decision. In addition, in intelligence gathering, assets are vetted to determin ...
and documenting all Computer Network Defense (CND) attributes which are available to US-CERT, both
classified and unclassified.
It helps promote improved mitigation resources of federal departments and agencies across the
Einstein network by requesting deployment of countermeasures in response to credible
cyber threats.
This feature conducts technical analysis on data provided from partners, constituents, and monitoring systems to understand the nature of attacks, threats, and
vulnerabilities, as well as develop tips, indicators, warnings, and actionable information to further US-CERT’s CND mission.
Digital analytics
This feature conducts digital
forensic
Forensic science combines principles of law and science to investigate criminal activity. Through crime scene investigations and laboratory analysis, forensic scientists are able to link suspects to evidence. An example is determining the time and ...
examinations and
malware
Malware (a portmanteau of ''malicious software'')Tahir, R. (2018)A study on malware and malware detection techniques . ''International Journal of Education and Management Engineering'', ''8''(2), 20. is any software intentionally designed to caus ...
artifact analysis (reverse engineering) to determine attack vectors and mitigation techniques, identifies possible threats based on analysis of malicious code and digital media, and provides indicators to mitigate and prevent future intrusions.
Operations
This feature informs the CND community on potential threats which allows for the
hardening of cyber defenses, as well as, develops
near real-time/rapid response community products (e.g.,
reports,
white papers).
When a critical event occurs, or has been detected, Operations will create a tailored product describing the event and the recommended course of action or mitigation techniques, if applicable, to ensure constituents are made aware and can protect their organization appropriately.
Communications
This feature supports NCCIC information sharing, development, and web presence. It is responsible for establishing and maintaining assured communications, developing and disseminating information, products, and supporting the development and maintenance of
collaboration tools.
International
This feature partners with foreign governments and entities to enhance the global
cybersecurity
Computer security (also cybersecurity, digital security, or information technology (IT) security) is a subdiscipline within the field of information security. It consists of the protection of computer software, systems and networks from thr ...
defense posture. It supports bilateral engagements, such as CERT-to-CERT information sharing/trust building activities, improvements related to global collaboration, and agreements on data sharing
standards.
Criticism
A January 2015 report by Senator
Tom Coburn, ranking member of the
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, expressed concern that "
S-CERTdoes not always provide information nearly as quickly as alternative private sector threat analysis companies".
See also
*
Alert (TA15-337A)
Dorkbot is a family of malware Computer worm, worms that spreads through instant messaging, USB flash drive, USB drives, websites or social media channels like Facebook. ''Code Shikara'' is a computer worm, related to the Dorkbot family, that att ...
*
CERT Coordination Center
*
Einstein (US-CERT program)
*
National Infrastructure Security Co-ordination Centre
References
External links
*
NCCIC National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center
ICS-CERT Industrial Control Systems Computer Emergency Response TeamForum of Incident Response and Security Teams – Members
{{Authority control
Computer Emergency Readiness Team
Computer emergency response teams
2003 establishments in Virginia
Government agencies established in 2003