Camp Williams Will Host a New $1.5 Billion Cybersecurity Data Center

By admin | Oct 30, 2009

The U.S. Intelligence Community will build a new $1.5 billion data center at Camp Williams, Utah, which will provide critical support to national cybersecurity priorities. The center will support the Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative (CNCI) which is aimed at securing the United States’ information infrastructure and coordinating its defense with state and local governments, as well as the private sector.

The Center will add important capabilities to the IC so that intelligence agencies can exercise their lawful authorities, subject to appropriate oversight, to protect national security networks, provide technical assistance to the Department of Homeland Security, provide intelligence and warning regarding cybersecurity threats, and to otherwise carry out their proper tasks under the CNCI to meet cybersecurity objectives. The IC estimates between 5,000 and 10,000 individuals will be employed during the construction and development of the Data Center. Once operational, the facility will employ between 100 and 200 individuals.

“The Intelligence Community has an important mission in protecting the U.S. cyber infrastructure. Cybersecurity is among the most pressing of national security concerns we face, and Utahns are going to play an important role in this mission – in protecting America’s interests,” says Mr. Gaffney, deputy director of national intelligence for collection whose responsibilities include oversight for Intelligence Community (IC) cyber activities.

The Cyberspace Policy Review, revealed by the White House earlier this year, describes a new way forward towards a reliable, resilient, trustworthy digital infrastructure for the future. In its review, the White House states, “The architecture of the nation’s digital infrastructure, based largely upon the Internet, is not secure or resilient. Without major advances in the security of these systems or significant change in how they are constructed and operated, it is doubtful that the United States can protect itself from the growing threat of cybercrime and state-sponsored intrusions and operations.”