McConnell 'aces' inspection

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Abigail Klein
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  In the current age of Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other big-name social media networks, it's no wonder that information should not only be protected verbally, it has to be protected electronically.

To evaluate McConnell's cyber protections, the Department of Defense Defense Information Systems Agency's Field Security Office recently sent an inspection team to McConnell. It is the DISA's responsibility to ensure secure Global Information Grids throughout DOD, said Mr. Steven Eftink, 22nd Air Refueling Wing Information Protection chief.

While at McConnell, the FSO team performed a Command Cyber Readiness Inspection. Like the upcoming Operational Readiness Inspection Sept. 30 through Oct. 3, 2011, the inspection was very serious, and, depending on the outcome, it could have led to McConnell losing all network capability, said Eftink.

"These inspections can be done with little or no notice," said Eftink. "[McConnell] had two months prepare."

For the 22nd Communications Squadron, this required a lot of after-hours planning and prepping. The inspection examines network infrastructure,
traditional/physical security and information awareness. The CCRI also
detects any deficiencies in the internal network and wireless systems, and examines any host-based and system firewalls in place. Items inspected by DISA were not limited to computers.

"This inspection focused on identifying the ability to ensure that network functionality was protected," said 2nd Lt. Jonathan Lanning, 22nd CS operations flight deputy commander. "This included how members secured network access, specifically open storage areas and the security of classified information facilities, and whether or not those are protected appropriately."

Inspectors evaluated security and safety processes outside the capabilities of the 22nd CS. All McConnell Airmen were reminded to remove their Common Access Cards after computer use, safeguard personal information or items and ensure that fire extinguishers were certified.

When McConnell migrated its network to a centralized system earlier this year, the Air Force took control of network management issues. As a result, the inspectors placed more emphasis on McConnell's physical security of its network, said Lanning.

Despite these challenges, McConnell received an overall "Outstanding" for its readiness capability, and McConnell's information protection chief could not be more proud of the results.

"The results and the over-all rating of the inspection could not have
been achieved without the assistance of the entire McConnell team," said Eftink. "This was truly a test of how well our team interacts with each other to ensure the protection of our cyber resources."