January 22, 1999

FACT SHEET

                              THE WHITE HOUSE

                       Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
January 22, 1999

                                FACT SHEET

               Keeping America Secure for the 21st Century:
               Computer Security and Critical Infrastructure

Today, President Clinton will announce new initiatives to defend the
nation?s computer systems and critical infrastructure from cyber-terrorism.
The most critical sectors of our economy -- power-generation,
telecommunications, banking, transportation and emergency services -- are
potentially vulnerable to disruptions from computer attack.

President Clinton will propose in the Fiscal Year 2000 budget spending
$1.46 billion to defend against this emerging threat.  This represents an
increase of $400 million from the FY 1999 budget proposal.  It will include
funding for the following initiatives:

Critical Infrastructure Applied Research Initiative:  The President?s
budget proposal includes $500 million for research and development efforts.
A portion of these funds will be spent on new initiatives to improve
information assurance by safeguarding networks.  Funds will also be
dedicated to developing tools that can identify anomalous activities and
"Trojan Horses" (malicious codes installed by unauthorized users).

Computer Intrusion Detection Networks:  The Defense Department has already
begun to install intrusion detection systems and create a network to warn
key computers of an attack.  Under the President?s initiative,  a similar
system for other Federal agencies will be evaluated and designed.  These
networks will ensure that when one computer system is attacked, others in
the network will be instantly warned of the intrusion, informed of the mode
of attack used, and provided with methods to stop it.

Information Sharing and Analysis Centers (ISACs):  As part of the
public-private partnership, we will support the initial establishment of
ISACs to foster private sector development of best practices and standards
for computer security, to encourage the sharing of vulnerability analysis,
and to provide outreach and training programs.  These ISACs will enable the
Federal government to provide private industry with threat information
without compromising privacy, civil liberties or proprietary data.

Cyber Corps: This program will address the shortage of highly skilled
computer science expertise in the government and enable agencies to recruit
a cadre of experts to respond to attacks on computer networks. It will use
existing personnel flexibilities, scholarship and financial assistance
programs, and examine new scholarship programs to retrain, retain and
recruit computer science students.

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