New Homeland Security Center to Guard Against Cyberattacks

The Department of Homeland Security is creating a center aimed at guarding energy companies, banks and other industries against cyberattacks.

Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen plans to announce the creation of the National Risk Management Center at a cybersecurity summit Tuesday. DHS says the center will be a collaborative effort between private businesses and government on how to identify potential threats and guard against them.

The center was created as cyberattacks are becoming more sophisticated and concerns grow that they could seriously damage critical infrastructure and affect millions of consumers.

Homeland Security officials said last week that Russian hackers had breached control rooms of major utilities last year. There are also concerns about possible meddling by Russia as midterm elections near.