INDIANAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Headline of release should read: Rook Security’s Security Operations Leader, Tom Gorup, Appointed as Indiana InfraGard IT Sector Chief (instead of FBI Appoints Rook Security’s Security Operations Leader, Tom Gorup, as Indiana InfraGard IT Sector Chief).
The corrected release reads:
ROOK SECURITY’S SECURITY OPERATIONS LEADER, TOM GORUP, APPOINTED AS INDIANA INFRAGARD IT SECTOR CHIEF
Former U.S. Army Infantry Squad Leader Turned Security Pro to Lead Private Sector Cybersecurity Collaboration with FBI
Rook Security, a provider of global IT security solutions protecting sensitive data against dynamic, emerging threats, is proud to announce that Tom Gorup, Security Operations Leader, has been appointed as the Indiana InfraGard IT Sector Chief by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
On February 13, 2015, President Barack Obama signed an Executive Order outlining the provisions for collaboration and open sharing of information between private sector companies and government agencies. In order to protect the nation’s critical infrastructures and key resources (CIKR) from various threats, expediting information exchange between the FBI, its partnering agencies, and the private sector is a front-line imperative. InfraGard’s Sector Chief Program (SCP) escalates communication across the organization by enlisting top subject matter experts as liaisons to facilitate information sharing and communication between the FBI and local InfraGard Members Alliances (IMAs).
This added exchange of information fuels the ability of the FBI and government partners to address threats to the 16 recognized sectors of the nation’s critical infrastructure. As part of this initiative, leaders are chosen as Sector Chiefs in the following critical sectors: Agriculture & Food, Banking & Finance, Chemical, Commercial Facilities, Communications, Critical Manufacturing, Dams, Defense Industrial Base, Emergency Services, Energy, Government Facilities, Healthcare & Public Health, Information Technology, Nuclear Reactors & Materials, Transportation Systems, and Water.
The Information Technology Sector is central to the nation's security, economy, and public health and safety. Businesses, governments, academia, and private citizens are increasingly dependent upon Information Technology Sector functions. These virtual and distributed functions produce and provide hardware, software, and information technology systems and services, and - in collaboration with the Communications Sector - the Internet. The sector's complex and dynamic environment makes identifying threats and assessing vulnerabilities difficult and requires that these tasks be addressed in a collaborative and creative fashion.
Sector Chiefs provide synchronized communication between local InfraGard leadership, FBI Coordinators, and area members, and promote key insight into their designated industry sector. The specific expertise of the Sector Chiefs also elevates the value of incident response exercises and helps tailor training programs to increase awareness and build a collective knowledge base toward improved national security.
In his role as IT Sector Chief, Gorup will support the following objectives:
- Increase the level of information and reporting between InfraGard members and the FBI on matters related to counterterrorism, cybercrime and other major crime programs.
- Increase interaction and information sharing among InfraGard members and the FBI regarding threats to the critical infrastructures, vulnerabilities and interdependencies.
- Provide members value-added threat advisories, alerts and warnings.
- Promote effective collaboration with local, state and federal agencies to include the Department of Homeland Security.
- Provide members a forum for education and training on counterterrorism, counterintelligence cybercrime and other matters relevant to informed reporting of potential crimes and attacks on the nation and U.S. interests.
“Identifying threats and attack trends is undoubtedly a large part of my responsibilities at Rook Security,” said Tom Gorup, Security Operations Leader, Rook Security. “With the recent Summit on Cybersecurity and Consumer Protection at Stanford and Executive Order on cybersecurity, the information technology industry now has an imperative to promote information sharing to protect the nation’s critical infrastructure as well. I encourage qualified experts from the 16 sectors to defend our national assets with InfraGard, and I’m honored to lead this sector for Indiana.”
About InfraGard
InfraGard is an information sharing and analysis effort serving the interests and combining the knowledge base of a wide range of members. At its most basic level, InfraGard is a partnership between the FBI and the private sector. InfraGard is an association of individuals, academic institutions, state and local law enforcement agencies, and other participants dedicated to sharing information and intelligence to prevent hostile acts against the United States. InfraGard Chapters are geographically linked with FBI Field Office territories. Each InfraGard Chapter has an FBI Special Agent Coordinator assigned to it, and the FBI Coordinator works closely with Supervisory Special Agent Program Managers in the Cyber Division at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
After September 11, 2001, protection of the physical and cyber infrastructure of the nation was the responsibility of the National Infrastructure Protection Center (NIPC). In March 2003, NIPC was transferred to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which now has responsibility for Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) matters. The FBI retained InfraGard as an FBI sponsored program, and will work with DHS in support of its CIP mission, facilitate InfraGard’s continuing role in CIP activities, and further develop InfraGard’s ability to support the FBI’s investigative mission, especially as it pertains to counterterrorism and cyber crimes. The goal of InfraGard is to promote ongoing dialogue and timely communication between members and the FBI. InfraGard members gain access to information that enables them to protect their assets and in turn give information to government that facilitates its responsibilities to prevent and address terrorism and other crimes.
About Rook Security
Rook Security is a provider of global IT security solutions protecting sensitive data against dynamic, emerging threats. Rook’s advisory and managed security services deliver visibility, intelligence, and response® in security operations to overcome the complex problems that continue to plague most organizations. As an integrated extension of their internal team, Rook helps organizations achieve a mature security and risk management program. Rook's advisory and managed security services have helped to improve the way organizations from start-ups to Fortune 100 firms protect their data and manage their risk. For more information, join us on Twitter @RookSecurity, Facebook, or www.rooksecurity.com.
Rook Security and the Rook Security logo are trademarks, registered trademarks, and/or service marks of Rook Security in the United States and other countries. All other names are trademarks or registered marks of their respective owners.
