Government Launches Cyber Security Awareness Contest

Looking to get ideas from individuals and industry about how to best engage the American public in a discussion about cyber security, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano used the RSA Conference to announced the National Cybersecurity Awareness Campaign Challenge Competition.

According to InformationWeek, proposals need to be submitted to DHS before April 30. They will be evaluated on such things as effective metrics for distribution and engagement, use of Web 2.0 technology, compliance with spam laws, privacy and message. For more details, visit the DHS Web site.

The government has used the RSA Conference as a platform for some very big announcements. As we reported on our Network Security Edge site, White House Internet security adviser Howard A. Schmidt announced the declassification of portions of the multi-billion-dollar Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative launched by the Bush administration to defend American interests in cyberspace.