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 2016 Awards 

AFEI is pleased to announce the following projects as our 2016 Excellence in Enterprise Information Award winners

Industry Winner

A State Cyber Hub Operations Framework
Institute for Defense Analyses

Over the last decade, the cybersecurity landscape has changed dramatically. Cybersecurity concerns are now center stage at all levels of industry, government, and law enforcement and emergency services communities. While progress has been made in gathering and sharing intelligence, data, and information, a significant gap exists between that process and the ability to predict impending cyber-attacks and to thwart them before they are successful. In other words, the challenge lies in understanding and making the information actionable in real or near-real time. To close this gap, federal, state, and local officials must work together to form a hub of cyber knowledge and expertise, operationalizing decision support.

The Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) assisted the Department of Defense (DoD) Chief Information Officer (CIO) in formalizing a proof of concept for cyber decision making and developing a cyber hub framework for operationalizing the data and intelligence produced across state structures and organizations to predict and respond to cyber attacks. The Cyber Hub Operations Framework leverages, not replaces, existing organizations and structures, and begins the work toward an operational cyber construct. IDA focused its attention on the transition from a compliance-based cybersecurity model—one focused primarily on the state of networks, malware, and patching—to a risk-based cybersecurity model that enables a predictive capability with the potential to thwart impending cyber-attacks.

Government Winner

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Continuity of Operations (COOP), Devolution Emergency Response Group (DERG)
Office of Homeland Security and Coordination (OHSEC), Continuity and Planning Division (CPD)

USDA’s innovative and unique initiatives in Continuity of Operations (COOP) and Devolution Planning activities have set a high standard for organizational readiness and preparedness within the U.S. government. The development, resourcing, and training of the USDA Devolution Emergency Response Group (DERG) is a success in integrating information systems, communication systems, network capabilities, broad based human expertise, and planning for shared resource availability nationwide. The effective DERG capability demonstrated by the USDA during the Eagle Horizon 2016 national continuity exercise provides a sustained Department leadership and decision-making capability for future emergency responses.