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Proceedings Spring 2014
www.uscg.mil/proceedings
public awareness, and supported cyber security efforts
through a joint cyber security action plan.
In addition, DHS, the U.S. Coast Guard, and other
federal departments and agencies collaborated with
the National Institute of Standards and Technology
to develop a common cyber security framework that
provides standards, best practices, and guidelines to
provide a scalable, consistent approach to cyber secu-
rity. This framework promotes open collaboration and
accountability on cyber security within the private
sector and enables businesses to analyze their current
state of cyber security and develop the business case to
achieve a desired future state.
The Coast Guard is developing a long-term cyber secu-
rity strategy to frame the service's cyber security needs,
including protecting our own systems and improving
cyber security within the marine transportation sys-
tem. USCG has also partnered with the U.S. Depart-
ment of Energy to adapt its Electricity Subsector Cyber
Security Capability Maturity Model to evaluate, priori-
tize, and improve cyber security capabilities within the
maritime industry.
These efforts are great starts to addressing cyber secu-
rity within and across borders. They must be matured,
sustained, and ever-evolving to meet the capricious
nature of cyber threats. Throughout industry and gov-
ernment, we must recognize the commonality of our
cyber vulnerabilities and promote further collabora-
tion and innovation to prevent, respond to, and recover
from cyber-related disruptions.
Technology has given us a gift that literally makes the
thousands of miles of land and ocean between our
borders relatively seamless. It is our duty as citizens,
government, industry, and nations to protect this gift
from those who aim to cross those borders for mali-
cious purposes.
About the author:
CDR Ulysses Mullins is the Critical Infrastructure Protection Branch chief
in the U.S. Coast Guard Offce of Port and Facility Compliance. His cur-
rent duties include managing the Marine Transportation Recovery program,
supporting marine transportation system security and resilience. He has
served in the Coast Guard for more than 20 years in various capacities in
marine safety, security, and environmental protection.
Endnote:
1.
See www.dhs.gov/beyond-border-shared-vision-perimeter-security-and-eco-
nomic-competitiveness.
Looking Ahead
Since the Beyond the Border initiative, the U.S. and Canada
have made inroads to address critical infrastructure and
cyber security by recognizing partnerships, information
sharing, and risk management as mainstays that the U.S.
Department of Homeland (DHS) Security and Public Safety
Canada will leverage to prevent, respond to, and recover
from critical infrastructure disruptions.
Both countries have engaged the private sector on cyber
security, worked to improve information sharing, enhanced
U.S./Canadian Maritime
Resilience Efforts
The United States-Canada Perimeter Security and
Economic Competitiveness Action Plan
In addition to the Beyond the Border initiative, Canada and the
United States have embarked on joint maritime commerce resilience-
related activities. In 2011, as part of the United States-Canada Perim-
eter Security and Economic Competitiveness Action Plan, Transport
Canada and the U.S. Coast Guard formed a framework for swiftly
managing maritime trafc in event of an emergency.
The frst phase was a pilot project in the Seattle, Wash./ Vancouver,
B.C. region in collaboration with the Pacifc Northwest Economic
Region organization, other levels of government, and industry
stakeholders on both sides of the border. The participants developed
information-sharing protocols and communication mechanisms and
validated them at a table-top exercise. Eforts are now underway to
expand this initiative to the Great Lakes and Atlantic regions.
Trade Recovery Guidelines
The U.S. Coast Guard and Transport Canada have also co-led an inter-
national committee to develop voluntary trade recovery guidelines
for the International Maritime Organization's Facilitation Committee.
The guidelines are intended for nations and industry to use to mini-
mize supply chain delays in the event of large-scale disruptions.
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