Information Assurance Assessment and Assistance Inspection

  • Published
  • By Philip McCoy
  • 354th Communications Squadron
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  All too often, we read headlines such as these about another Cyber Attack against Department of Defense computers and networks: 

"Pentagon Shuts Down Systems After Cyber-Attack", PC World, June 21, 2007
"Cyber-attack on Defense Department computers raises concerns", LA Times, Nov. 28, 2008
"Pentagon Bill To Fix Cyber Attacks: $100M", CBS News, April 7, 2009
"Net attacks triple in 2 years", Federal Times, Aug. 3, 2009 

As the United States Air Force relies more and more on computers and networks to conduct our daily business, it becomes increasingly critical to guarantee these systems are safe and secure at all times. 

Recently, General Norton A. Schwartz, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, sent out an email to the entire Air Force community stressing how our Cyber Operations reinforce and enable everything we do - from administrative functions to combat operations. With this increased reliance on technology comes increased pressure to keep one step ahead of attacks on our networks. 

From Oct. 27 until Nov. 7, the Air Force Network Integration Center at Scott Air Force Base will be sending a team to conduct our Wing Information Assurance Assessment and Assistance Program Inspection. The IAAP inspection is a "find and fix" review of all areas of Information Assurance to assess the effectiveness of the 354th Fighter Wing and unit IA programs. 

The inspection includes computer security, emissions security and communications security. It is critical in identifying and correcting vulnerabilities in our network and computer security practices, policies and procedures. 

Using the AF Form 4160 checklist, inspectors will canvas Eielson, visiting at least 30% of the unit Information Assurance Officers and 100% of our communications security accounts. In preparation for the upcoming inspection, the Wing Information Assurance Office, in conjunction with your unit IAOs, will be conducting self inspections on all base agencies on the installation. 

Do you know who your unit IAO is? Knowing the answer to this simple question, when asked, goes a long way in receiving a passing rating in our upcoming Information Assurance Inspection. 

As a user of the base information systems, you too can make sure you are prepared by practicing a few simple security actions, such as knowing your IAO, removing your common access card and locking your workstation when you leave, eliminating the use of thumb drives, using "Privacy Act" cover sheets, and knowing virus reporting procedures. 

Using sound cyber security practices goes a long way in keeping our networks safe from attackers, and the IAAP inspection is one tool to help us meet those challenges. 

If you have any additional questions please contact your unit IAO or the Wing Information Assurance Office at 377-2815