Computer Security Division

The Computer Security Division (CSD), a component of NIST’s Information Technology Laboratory (ITL), provides standards and technology to protect information systems against threats to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information and services.

During Fiscal Year 2012 (FY2012), CSD successfully responded to numerous challenges and opportunities
in fulfilling its mission. CSD carried out a diverse research agenda and participated in many national priority initiatives, leading to the development and implementation of high-quality, cost-effective security and privacy mechanisms that improved information security across the federal government and throughout the national and international information security community.

In FY2012, CSD continued to develop standards, metrics, tests, and validation programs to promote, measure, and validate the security in information systems and services. Recognizing the potential benefits of more automation in technical security operations. The CSD also continued to work closely with federal agencies to improve their understanding and implementation of the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) to protect their information and information systems. CSD supported a major intelligence community and national security community initiative to build a unified framework for information security across the federal government. This initiative is expected to result in greater standardization and more consistent and cost-effective security for all federal information systems.

These are just some of the highlights of the CSD program during FY2012. You may obtain more information about CSD’s programs at http://csrc.nist.gov or by contacting any of the CSD experts noted in the 2011 Computer Security Division's Annual Report. If interested in participating in any CSD challenges – whether current or future – please contact any of the listed CSD experts.