CSO staff

Given the high number of blackouts, hurricanes and other disasters that have come our way during the past few years, many CIOs are wisely reexamining their disaster recovery strategies.

Raymond Chen is one of the most respected Windows developers (and speakers on development) at Microsoft. He blogs too, not only about the arcana of coding but also about, say, the movie version of Pride and Prejudice or the etymology of the phrase "traffic light." Chen is also a certified pack rat.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has created the National Cyber Security Division (NCSD) to help implement the president's National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace and the Homeland Security Act of 2002. The NCSD will provide 24/7 functions such as conducting cyberspace analysis, issuing alerts and warnings, improving information-sharing, responding to major incidents, and aiding in national-level recovery efforts.

President Bush's 2004 U.S. government budget asks for more than US$70 billion in IT spending.

Jeffrey Bedser, COO of infosec threat-management company ICG, answers readers' cybersecurity questions.

The federal government received an overall grade of F on the annual Computer Security Report Card, conducted by Rep. Stephen Horn (R-Calif.).