Information technology and web-based systems that afford the Department of Defense such opportunities also make us vulnerable.

Adversaries could take advantage of our reliance on information technology;

Natural disasters could cripple public infrastructures;

Hackers could paralyze our information infrastructure or corrupt data...

And, human error could lead to the posting of secure or sensitive information on a public website .

In the past, controlling and limiting access to specific data, computer systems, or networks protected sensitive information.

Today, however, DoD systems are being designed and developed to be interoperable and 95% of these systems run on local area, wide-area, or public networks.

That’s why DoD is adopting more sophisticated methods for protecting these information technology systems.

We are ensuring the appropriate controls are placed on various types of information, including classified information, as well as data records covered by the Privacy Act;

We are ensuring the confidentiality and integrity of electronic signatures by developing digital or digitized signatures that can’t be replicated;

We are protecting sensitive information from unauthorized disclosure through encryption and the use of Public Key Infrastructure;

Securing systems with a technology that’s exportable to allies and coalition partners;

And we are working with the public and private sectors to identify and protect public infrastructure.