CI-SOC Opened

Today the DHS Cybersecurity Agency (CSA) announced the opening of the National Critical Infrastructure Security Operations Center (CI-SOC) in Delano, GA. The facility is tasked with monitoring the cybersecurity of 600 critical infrastructure facilities across the United States.

Ida Long, Director of the CSA, said: “The Agency is proud to announce this important step in protecting the cyber operations of this great country. Working in partnership with the owners of these 600 facilities, we will be able to monitor operations, detect and isolate cyberattacks, and identify the attackers at any of these facilities.”

According to the CSA information packet on the CI-SOC there will be a total of 1,500 employees working out of the converted Sears store in Delano. They include 400 cybersecurity specialists who will be monitoring incoming and outgoing electronic communications at each of the 600 facilities on a continuous basis, looking for indicators of compromise.

Gen Buck Turgidson (Ret), the Director of CI-SOC, told reporters that this facility is unique in its capability for monitoring not just the information technology infrastructure at these facilities, but also the operational control systems, building control systems, and physical security control systems at each facility.

“We have 25 process experts available on the floor of the CI-SOC at all times to help the cyber-operators understand the physical system implications of attacks on the various control systems being monitored,” Turgidson told reporters: “They also help the CI response coordinators understand what outside assets may need to be sent to affected facilities to help them recover from various aspects of the attacks identified.”

The Mayor of Delano, Arrington Carter, was on hand for the opening ceremony for the new CI-SOC. She told reporters: “We are very happy to have the CI-SOC take over the old Sears store that closed a couple of years ago. The influx of new technical personnel into the city and the increase in jobs supporting their operations will be a big plus for the City of Delano for years to come.”

Sen TJ Kong (R,GA), who was responsible for the CI-SOC being located in Delano, told reporters that the new facility will bring an infusion of money, people and technology into the city and the region. “Delano has already seen a resurgence since construction and remodeling started on the facility early last year,” Kong said; “And we expect to see additional expansion as more facilities are brought under the CI-SOC umbrella.”

CAUTIONARY NOTE: This is a future news story –