Cyber Round Up: NSA Epicenter Launch Delayed; Russian Cybercrime Declining?; Virginia’s Database of Resident Records; NSTIC Single Password Program

The National Security Agency’s (NSA) scheduled opening of a new epicenter—one that is to serve as the largest agency data storage center in the country—has been delayed due to electrical problems discovered by the Army Corps of Engineers, reports The Miami Herald.

A report recently released by a Russian cybersecurity firm reveals evidence that cybercrime in the country may actually be declining, according to Digital Forensic Investigator News.  “Moscow-based Group-IB estimates that the size of the cyber-crime market in Russia was $1.07 billion last year.  The firm said it was $1.19 billion in 2011, an 11 percent decrease led by declines in online banking fraud.”

Using DMV records, Virginia has created an identity database of state residents to be used by Virginia agencies in their efforts to uncover fraud.  The article by The Washington Times also reports that the database may be used “to benefit residents who want or need to do business with the state electronically.”

In August, the National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace (NSTIC) and the United States Postal Service launched a pilot program that aims to provide individuals with access to “everything from federal health benefits to student loan information using a single ID and password,” according to Federal News Radio.  This will be made possible through a cloud-service hub that “allows agencies to accept citizen long-in credentials from private or public identity providers certified by the Federal Identity Credential and Access Management (ICAM) initiative.”