Just what should the cyber czar do?

Everyone agrees the nation needs a cyber czar to deal with protecting both public and private-sector computer networks. But no one is exactly sure what he or she should do. Top intelligence officials think the new job should be part of the National Security Council with broad policy-setting authority. Other top people in the administration think the new official should be a deputy assistant to the president and also report to the National Economic Council.

President Obama is expected to make a decision within a week on the power and authority of the newly created position that may have a major role in dealing with a growing threat--cybersecurity--according to the Washington Post.

While it may not directly affect the job of IT workers in the federal government, the role of the new czar will certainly impact how every agency deals with security issues around their computer networks. Administration officials have reached one conclusion: The new official's role would be limited to security and not to broader cyber policy issues.

"The bottom line is, whatever title this person has, if they don't have real authority, then they will not be effective," said Richard A. Clarke, a security adviser to the administrations of Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.

It certainly sounds like there could be too many chefs cooking the stew in the security arena if specific lines of authority are not established for the cyber czar and every other high-level IT executive who has security on their watch list.

For more on the role of the cyber czar:
- check out this Washington Post article