Legislation that would authorize and codify efforts by the Department of Homeland Security to deploy a network security system known as continuous diagnostics and mitigation (CDM) today cleared the House Homeland Security Committee.

The Advancing Cybersecurity Diagnostics and Mitigation Act (HR 6443), which was offered by Rep. John Ratcliffe (R., Texas), was approved by unanimous consent.  The bill is designed to encourage DHS to move quickly on CDM deployment and to guide the program’s implementation.

A fully deployed CDM system would enable DHS to keep watch over civilian agencies’ networks and identify threats as they arise.  DHS has completed the first implementation phase and is working on buying the components and services needed for the next phase.

“It is DHS’s CDM program that will help federal agencies and the whole of the federal government understand the threats they face and the risks vulnerabilities pose in real time,” Rep. Ratcliffe said at today’s markup.

The committee also approved the Securing the Homeland Security Supply Chain Act (HR 6430), which would authorize the DHS secretary to address threats to the department’s supply chain. —Tom Leithauser, tom.leithauser@wolterskluwer.com

CourtesyTRDaily