Role of Technology in Helping Homeland Security Address Terrorism

PPD 8 and NPR Research

Task:

PPD 8 and NPR Research and report on the status of one of the three tasks below. You do not need to explain what PPD8 is, instead explain what is going on with one of the three tasks assigned within the PPD.

1. How did the DHS structure the NPR and what principle tools were used to develop the Key Findings?

2. Select any one of the 31 core capabilities and address your own assessment of the key findings and data within that capability with special attention to the weakness[es] described. You should try to connect this weakness to your own deductions about DHS weakness[es] you revealed in Week 1.

3. How will the DHS measure progress in fixing the NPRs identified weaknesses?

Homeland security is a vital department in the country that was majorly set-up mainly to increase safety and security within the country. Homeland security mainly deals with addressing terrorist attacks and disasters, which mostly put the lives of many citizens at risk when they occur. The department largely focusses on terrorism but still strives to maintain other security duties such as emergency response and border security. Throughout my previous studies, I have discovered that the department does so well in general surveillance and disaster management; however, it has fundamental weaknesses in technology and supply chain operations.

Homeland security is a very vital department in America that accords all citizens a sense of security regardless of their locations. Homeland security has employees all over the globe, which makes Americans less worried about their safety. It is not possible to cross a border without encountering the Homeland security staffs who interrogate suspected individuals. The large scale surveillance, which is performed by Homeland security is essential in guaranteeing the security and safety of the citizens (Givens, Busch, & Bersin, 2011). The department has also been very instrumental in emergency response. Homeland security offers great help to communities that suffer both natural or terrorist disasters in the United States. The department usually implements instant emergency recovery strategies. For instance, in the case whereby a hurricane hit the Gulf Coast, the department responded swiftly by deploying staff to carry out the recovery processes.

Quite often, Homeland security is criticized by both citizens and other state departments for its inability to live up to the expected standards. The department is yet to adopt major security technologies, which would help its employees function even more effectively. The department seems to have concentrated more on physical threats at the expense of technological threats, which are more popular in the contemporary world. Lack of security technologies leads to delayed convictions. There are numerous complaints by citizens citing that cases involving cyber-crimes take too long to be closed.

Similarly, Homeland security is not adequately equipped to deal with the threat posed by the current global supply chains (Zappile, 2014). The department still needs to train its staff or employ people who have the required knowledge and experience in the fields of transportation and logistics. There are still many supplies that get into the country that are not legal. A thorough mastery of the intricacies surrounding the global supply chains will enable the department to conduct proper scrutiny on supplies before allowing them to enter the country to ensure that they do not pose any threats to the citizens.

Overall, Homeland security has played an essential role in the United States since its creation. However, the department needs to constantly adjust to meet the needs of the rapidly evolving world. The relevance of Homeland security might fade away if it does not increase its ability to deal with major technological developments and the global trends in global supply chains.

Research question: What is the role of technology in helping Homeland security to counter-terrorism?
Thesis Statement: The use of advanced technology as a tool of terrorism has been gaining momentum in the past few decades, and adopting these technologies could be an essential move by Homeland security to deter the agents and acts of terrorism.