NIST Halts IT Lab Reorganization
The federal agency charged with developing and promoting standards for government computer networks has halted the reorganization of its information technology laboratory amid mixed reviews from high-tech stakeholders, the House Science Committee learned Thursday. Cita Furlani, who runs the lab within the National Institute of Standards and Technology, said she received "expressions of concern and support" and plans to reevaluate how to ensure ITL's structure is as flexible and efficient as possible.
A key goal of the proposed reorganization was to strengthen NIST's cybersecurity efforts by relocating the NIST chief cybersecurity advisor to the central laboratory office as an associate director. Officials believed that would provide the authority and wide purview needed to ensure that cybersecurity projects throughout the lab are well coordinated and strengthened through new multidisciplinary collaborations.
Experts who joined Furlani at the Technology and Innovation Subcommittee witness table cheered the news. Sun Microsystems engineer Susan Landau, who served on the Center for Strategic and International Studies' Commission on Cybersecurity for the 44th Presidency, said she was "delighted" to hear the reorganization is off the table. Cornell University computer security scholar Fred Schneider echoed her remarks, saying the shake up offered few benefits -- but said discussions about a more sensible restructuring should continue.
McAfee Vice President Phyllis Schneck pointed out that the success of the NIST's computer security operations depend on a steady budget and manpower. She argued the agency is already "under-resourced and under-staffed." Software & Information Industry Association general counsel Mark Bohannon added that he believes NIST's computer security division should be made a separate lab within the agency.
Regardless of what recommendations emerge from the department's internal assessment, the technical program work performed by NIST's computer security division will not change, Furlani said.
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