USAFE info inspection to last until June 27

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Benjamin Wilson
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BAE, Turkey --  Incirlik's 39th Communications Squadron Information Assurance Office is undergoing a major command-level inspection to gauge the status of the wing's security program and address any problem areas. 

This United States Air Forces in Europe Information Assurance Inspection began June 23 and will conclude June 27. 

The wing information security office, along with various unit representatives, is responsible for ensuring all IA is within Air Force standards at Incirlik, Izmir, Ankara and Eskisehir. 

"Information assurance affects the entire base," said Master Sgt. Jennifer Allphin, 39 CS wing IAO non-commissioned officer in charge. "If we weren't doing our job, there would be a lot more vulnerabilities and possibly more down-time due to viruses crashing the network. We make the network accessible by making sure people aren't abusing it." 

Information assurance encompasses three aspects: computer security, emissions security and communications security. 

Computer security deals with network and computer availability, information integrity, and also helps ensure minimal abuse to these systems. 

Emissions security is designed for classified systems and protects the emanations of classified material from secure networks. 

Communications security is primarily used for cryptography of classified systems such as encoding secure telephone units and keying land mobile radios. 

"In this year's inspection, USAFE will only be inspecting EMSEC and COMPUSEC," said Sergeant Allphin. "Main areas of inspection will include individual units, the wing IAO, the network control center and the information protection office. The wing IAO manages the paper-work and ensures the offices are enforcing standards, while the NCC and IPO work more with the network." 

Several measures were taken by the wing IAO to prepare the different sections for the inspection. 

Wing IAO personnel conducted two staff assisted visits-per-unit to give them extra training in their weak areas, said Sergeant Allphin. "The use of external devices such as drives, MP3 players and universal serial bus devices not registered through a unit's information system security officer were the biggest findings during the SAVs." 

Information assurance personnel also conducted training for all newly appointed information systems security officers and EMSEC managers, and tracked certification and accreditation process, ensuring all systems were authorized to be connected to the network, said Staff Sgt. Kenya Bryan, 39 CS information systems security manager. 

Sergeant Bryan believes Incirlik's inspection will go well. 

"We're going to do great," she said. "Our team has worked hard in order to prepare for this inspection and we are confident Team Incirlik is ready."