Defending the Homeland in Cyberspace

The United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) has been a central institution in the national cyber security strategy since 2003. The US-CERT has a track record of success and has grown in prominence in the security community. However, there remains confusion and a lack of awareness about the US-CERT, its mission, and its capabilities. To dispel this confusion and promote awareness of the US-CERT’s value, this article will explore the US-CERT’s mission, role, characteristics, and capabilities. This paper will also seek to improve awareness among readers of the work that US-CERT produces, how to leverage it, and how to interact with the organization.