e-Government and Cyber Security: The Role of Cyber Security Exercises

Abstract

e-Government operations are increasing with citizen demand for timely and cost effective services. Security associated with individual systems is similar to many e-commerce solutions. The span of control of e-government and its impact across a community defines a system that is more than a sum of just single systems. To test security issues across the entire system requires a new method of analysis, a community based cyber security exercise. Results from recent community based exercises have provided insight into opportunities for improvement and has demonstrated the value of these events. Information gained from community based exercises permits local governmental entities to better prepare their e-government systems to serve their citizens needs. Although some actions discovered in the exercise may be difficult and resource intensive, numerous low-hanging fruit opportunities for improvement can be discovered and used to improve e-government systems.