Cybersecurity

digital representation of a cyber lock Our nation’s cyber networks are under constant threat from malicious actors intent on infiltrating, disrupting, and destroying our country’s critical information infrastructure.

To defend against the relentless and ever-evolving attacks on U.S. cyber infrastructure, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) executes cybersecurity research and development (R&D) in both information technology and operational technology systems.

S&T supports DHS operational components with emerging cyber-capabilities to enhance the security and resilience of the nation’s critical information infrastructure and the internet, including:
• Cyber data analytics
• Machine learning
• Malware analysis
• Software assurance
• Mobility

In an increasingly interconnected world, S&T strengthens the nation’s cybersecurity posture by partnering with innovators, government entities, international partners, law enforcement and other first responders, industry and academic groups to develop crucial capabilities.

Current Programs and Projects

Cybersecurity Division's R&D Lifecycle Process: Critical infrastructure owners and operators work with DHS customers using prioritized requirements to begin Pre-R&D: Workshops and Solicitations. Moves into R&D: Program Support. Moves into Post-R&D: Experiments and Tech transfer. Moves back into Pre-R&D. Through a practitioner-driven approach, S&T creates and deploys information resources—standards, frameworks, tools and technologies enabling seamless and secure interactions among homeland security stakeholders. Through an aggressive cybersecurity R&D lifecycle process—research, development, test, evaluation and transition to practice—S&T produces unclassified solutions that address today's complex challenges and can be implemented in both the public and private sectors. In addition to being innovative, S&T develops usable technologies, tools and techniques to defend, mitigate, and secure current and future systems, networks and critical infrastructures against cyberattacks.

To accomplish its mission and serve its customers, S&T’s funds a wide range of cybersecurity projects aimed at improving security in both federal networks and the larger internet.