The Federal Bureau of Investigation
and the National Infrastructure Protection Center (NIPC), located
at FBI Headquarters, introduced today the National InfraGard
Program to the public.
The National InfraGard Program
began as a pilot project in 1996, when the Cleveland FBI Field
Office asked local computer professionals to assist the FBI in
determining how to better protect critical information systems
in the public and private sectors. From this new partnership,
the first InfraGard Chapter was formed to address both cyber
and physical threats.
The NIPC, in conjunction with
representatives from the private industry, the academic community,
and the public sector, further developed the "InfraGard"
initiative to expand direct contacts with the private sector
infrastructure owners and operators and to share information
about cyber intrusions, exploited vulnerabilities, and infrastructure
threats. The initiative, encouraging the exchange of information
by government and private sector members, continued to expand
through the formation of additional InfraGard chapters, within
the jurisdiction of each FBI Field Office. As of this date, all
56 field offices of the FBI have opened an InfraGard chapter,
with a total of 518 company members across the nation.
The National InfraGard Program
provides four basic services to its members: an intrusion alert
network using encrypted e-mail; a secure website for communication
about suspicious activity or intrusions; local chapter activities
and a help desk for questions. The critical component of InfraGard
is the ability of industry to provide information on intrusions
to the local FBI Field Office using secure communications in
both a "sanitized" and detailed format. The local FBI
Field Offices can, if appropriate, use the detailed version to
initiate an investigation; while the NIPC at FBI Headquarters
can analyze that information to determine if the intrusion is
a broader attack on numerous sites. The NIPC can simultaneously
use the sanitized version to inform other members of the intrusion
without compromising the confidentiality of the reporting company.
In addition, the secure website contains a variety of analytic
and warning products that can be made available to the InfraGard
community.
"The InfraGard Program allows
law enforcement and industry to work together and share information
regularly, including information that could prevent potential
intrusions into our national infrastructure," said Attorney
General Janet Reno. "Building bridges between law enforcement
and the public and private sector is one of the most important
ways we can protect ourselves from these threats."
FBI Director Louis J. Freeh also
applauds the success of the National InfraGard Program: "Computer
crime is one of the most dynamic problems the FBI faces today.
I am proud of the progress we have made in dealing with this
problem by establishing the InfraGard initiative and opening
the lines of communication between the public and private sectors
and the law enforcement community. I am confident that we will
continue to work together to further develop the capabilities
to meet the computer crime problem, in all its facets, head on.
Our economy and public safety depend on it."
For additional information about
the National InfraGard Program or infrastructure protection,
please contact your local FBI Field Office. For additional information
about the National Infrastructure Protection Center, please inquire
via e-mail at nipc@fbi.gov.