UTSA leads effort to counter cyber-terrorism
(July 16, 2002)--The University of Texas at San Antonio and local governing groups are leading an effort to counter or prevent cyber terrorism from paralyzing an urban area’s computer systems. Labeled "Dark Screen," the initiative is a unique part of the federal government’s homeland security program.
"Dark Screen ultimately will test the capabilities of the City of San Antonio and regional area to counter a cyber-terrorist attack," according to UTSA President Ricardo Romo. "San Antonio is the only city in the nation to be able to bring a large number of diverse organizations together for such an effort."
"Without the leadership demonstrated by both the City of San Antonio and Bexar County, this project would not be possible," Romo added. "The results of our work will help municipalities across the country better prepare for the threat of cyber-terrorism, not just in our region or Texas. Congressman Ciro Rodriguez is to be credited for initiating this concept with our faculty. Congressman Henry Bonilla and Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison are to be credited for helping make the project become a reality by providing the funding for UTSA's Center for Infrastructure Assurance and Security."
Along with the city and county, numerous other sectors of the regional community are involved, including industry, the military, the Air Intelligence Agency and the State of Texas. The principle investigator for this grant-funded program is UTSA's Center for Infrastructure Assurance and Security (CIAS), which recently was honored by the U.S. National Security Agency as a "Center of Academic Excellence." UTSA was one of only 36 universities in the country to earn this distinction.
Dark Screen is currently in phase I of its development, with its first test scheduled for Sept. 13. It will be followed by phase II development and a comprehensive test early next summer.
"This initiative is key to successfully developing partnerships and
strategies to protect vital computer and network systems from a terrorist
threat," said Greg White, technical director of CIAS. "Working
with state and federal authorities, Dark Screen will become a model emergency
response plan for complex information technology systems that are essential
for a city or metropolitan region to function."
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© The University of Texas at San Antonio, 2002