InfraGard Members Alliance Houston

JCIP conference details

This page will be updated with information about the JCIP conference in Houston on Aug 3, 2011.

Symposium agenda: Brochure

Venue map: Centerpoint Energy 1111 Louisiana

Parking information: Map to nearby facilities

Local lunch locations will be provided at the registration desk.

Last minute details:

Houston - JCIP conference to focus on Oil/Gas, Chemical, and Electrical Sectors

The Joint Critical Infrastructure Partnership (JCIP) conference will be held at CenterPoint Energy on Wed, Aug 3, 2011.  The full day conference will have a number of nationally and internationally known subject matter experts.

There will be presentations from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Houston Fusion Center.  In addition we will have private sector as well as academia represented among the speakers.

The focus of the program is Energy (Electric, Oil and Gas), and Chemicals.  Although other sectors are welcome, the sessions will be focused  specifically for those sectors.

Speakers will provide insight on current threats to physical, as well as cyber assets.

Draft copy of agenda: http://www.infragardhouston.org/Conferences/JCIP/JCIPHoustonAgenda_DRAFTv2%207-6-2011.pdf

The final copy of the agenda will be posted on the website in the next several days.

Please refer to this link for to REGISTER: http://www.infragard.net/jcip/register.php

Look forward to seeing you on Aug 3rd.

Joint Critical Infrastructure Protection - Symposium

Save the date Aug 3, 2011 for the JCIP symposium with a focus on the Energy Sector to be held in downtown Houston.  Addtional informaiton is available at: http://www.infragardhouston.org/Conferences/JCIP/JCIPSavetheDate.pdf

 

  
DHS and FBI - InfraGard Working Together:  The Joint Critical Infrastructure Partnership (JCIP)

The protection of the United States’ critical infrastructure is managed through multiple networks and organizations designed to manage and reduce risk at the national level. Utilizing their existing partnership, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have launched a new initiative, in cooperation with InfraGard, to work more closely with infrastructure stakeholders across the country.

The Joint Critical Infrastructure Partnership (JCIP) is a collaborative effort that draws on the tremendous local resources accessible through DHS, FBI - InfraGard, and public and private sector partners. To achieve the goals of reducing risk and promoting awareness, JCIP will provide opportunities to enhance foundational infrastructure security and resilience at the local and regional levels.

Together, DHS, FBI – InfraGard, and public/private sector partners provide tangible and direct benefits to local, regional and national infrastructure security, including: strengthening relationships and broadening information networks, improving preparedness and response, and encouraging awareness of and participation in the effort to improve infrastructure security and resiliency.
 
In support of this initiative, JCIP is hosting a series of five symposiums across the country in Atlanta, Georgia; Chicago, Illinois; Houston, Texas; Newark, New Jersey; and San Diego, California. These events will provide important information on infrastructure issues tailored to the respective regions and participants, as well as serve as forums for exchanging ideas and concerns. Additionally to augment the five stand-alone events, JCIP will be accepting applications for trade show booth sponsorships to leverage JCIP resources at events planned by other agencies with a similar focus as JCIP through July 2011. Details on the application process and participating in these opportunities will be announced in the coming weeks.
 
While the JCIP program is funded by DHS and managed by the FBI, its efforts would not be possible without the involvement of key public and private sector partners spanning the Nation. Key contributors in the planning, coordination and implementation of the JCIP program include representatives from DHS, FBI, InfraGard National Members Alliance, InfraGard Members Alliances, state and local agencies, as well as critical infrastructure and key resources’ owners and operators.
 
Future announcements and more information about the JCIP program will be posted on www.InfraGard.net. For questions, please send an email to Bill Moraniec, the JCIP Secretariat, at william.moraniec@associates.dhs.gov.

Hazmat Fusion Center

The National Hazardous Materials Fusion Center (NHMFC) provides responders, throughout the U.S., an information sharing capability previously not available to first responders.

The NHMFC Website (www.hazmatfc.com) was demonstrated during the EPA, Region 6, HotZone Conference in Houston, Texas. The internet portal not only provides responders an opportunity to report information on HazMat incidents, but also provides a number of easy to use resources.

http://scienceray.com/physics/hazmat-fusion-center

http://www.hazmatfc.com/Pages/Home.aspx

Submitted by: E. Charles Sterling

Response and Restoration software and information

NOAA's Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R) protects coastal and marine resources, mitigates threats, reduces harm, and restores ecological function. The Office provides comprehensive solutions to environmental hazards caused by oil, chemicals, and marine debris.

CAMEO Chemicals is a database of hazardous chemicals that emergency responders and planners can use to get response recommendations and predict hazards.

Get a standalone version of CAMEO Chemicals that you can run from your Windows computer.

http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/index.php

Submitted by: E. Charles Sterling

Iran's Nuclear Chiefs Battle Cyber Attack

"This computer worm (STUXNET) is designed to transfer data about production lines from our industrial plants to (locations) outside of the country."

The Stuxnet worm is described by experts as the most complex piece of malware ever designed.

Technology security provider Symantec told the Financial Times it would have taken a team of 10 specialised programmers about six months of full-time work to design Stuxnet.

"Government organisations across the world need to think carefully about how they are protecting their power stations, water plants and industrial units, from malicious attack," Mr Bentley added.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Technology/Irans-Atomic-Energy-Organisation-Meets-To-Discuss-Response-To-Stuxnet-Worm-Over-Nuclear-Plant-Fears/Article/201009415743426?lpos=Technology_Second_Home_Page_Article_Teaser_Region_0&lid=ARTICLE_15743426_Irans_Atom

Submitted by: E. Charles Sterling

InfraGard Houston Malware Analysis Initiative Announced

All Houston InfraGard members are encouraged to participate

Today the Houston InfraGard Chapter announces its Malware Analysis Pilot Project, which will provide additional intelligence for the Houston InfraGard Community to protect Critical Infrastructure and Key Resources.

The pilot project will identify and develop a process to acquire OPEN SOURCE malware, viruses, and other cyber threats at private sector organizations on an anonymous basis and to provide early intelligence to the private sector.  The program will leverage the Special Interest Groups (SIG’s) groups within the Houston Chapter.  The Sector Chiefs will be a collection point for all Houston IMA members who wish to remain anonymous.  The Sector Chief’s will provide a conduit to disseminate analysis, and insure that adequate population of data is available to the analysis center.  Anticipated participating SIG’s are: Electric, Oil and Gas, Healthcare and Medical, Finance and Banking.

The program will include requirements definition, the analysis of infrastructure required to support an ongoing program, identification of analysis assets to review the cyber threats, and identifying methods to provide intelligence back to the community.

The program will include a collaborative effort between a university information technology research curriculum at the graduate level and subject matter experts from the Houston FBI Cyber Security division, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Houston Special Interest Groups.

The program will additionally provide an opportunity for educational institutions to develop curriculum that includes practical application of current threat analysis, research, and best practices for cyber security.

The pilot program will conclude with a after action report, projected human resource/ infrastructure funding requirements, and project plan for permanent establishment of analysis centers at multiple universities.

For specific details on the project including a FAQ and submittal form please refer to the project information web page at: Project webpage

 

 

Surveillance Detection Awareness on the Job - Virtual Roundtable event on HSIN

The Office of Infrastructure Protection’s (IP) Sector-Specific Agency Executive Management Office (SSA EMO) and Partnership and Outreach Division (POD), with assistance from the Surveillance Detection workgroup, developed a 90-minute, highly interactive and visual, virtual roundtable, designed to raise the awareness of suspicious activities and behaviors that might indicate potential surveillance activities. An invitation to the roundtable is attached. 

The target audience for this roundtable will be a full-range of employees working at critical infrastructure facilities, government agencies, governmental organizations, and private-sector owners and operators, including front-line supervisors such as security managers, facilities managers, human resource managers, compliance managers, and IT managers.

More information: http://www.infragardhouston.org/pdfs/SDA%20Virtual%20Roundtable%209-9-10%20Invite.pdf

Houston InfraGard Chapter collaborating with DHS to gather assessment data after tropical storms

The Houston InfraGard Chapter is collaborating with the local Department of Homeland Security (DHS) office to provide critical infrastructure damage assessment after any regional disaster.  The DHS will monitor the Houston InfraGard Twitter account IMAHoustonSR for in the field updates.  The Twitter account is only available for Houston InfraGard Chapter members and vetted agencies.  All members and critical infrastructure partners are encouraged to "request to follow" the Twitter account well in advance of any incident.

Additional users will not be added 48 hours before any landfalling storm.

Please refer to our web page at: http://www.infragardhouston.org/infragardhouston/member-resources.html