Forward, Ready, Now in Cyberspace

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Caleb Pierce
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  Information assurance can be a difference of giving information to an enemy or securing information so only 'need to know' personnel have access. Here, the wing IA team along with organizational IAO's, work day in and day out to ensure base personnel are always using best practices and help safeguard information.

Information Assurance is the practice of assuring information and managing risks related to use, processing, storage and transmission of information and the systems used for that information. IA is designed to protect information commensurate with the level of risk and magnitude of harm resulting from loss, misuse, unauthorized access, or modification.

The wing IA office has a number of duties that include coordinating classified info, ensuring countermeasures are in place for computer systems, devices, and also certifying and accrediting the air base network with more than 250 security controls as well as develops, implements, oversees and maintains the IA program for the entire Wing including three geographically separated unit's across Turkey.

"Information Assurance is directly related to how we fly, fight and win in cyberspace." said Tech. Sgt. James Ryan, wing information assurance manager. "Without the proper safeguards in place, the Air Force opens up our Unclassified and Classified network to outsider and even insider threats and vulnerabilities."

Some of the safeguards are as simple as logging off your computer, removing your common access card when not at a computer, encrypting emails, and not using unapproved devices on government computer systems.

Knowing that vulnerabilities exists, personnel are encouraged to be more involved in cyberspace by taking the necessary training and use proper fundamentals.

"Protecting personal and classified information is a big deal," said Capt. David Liapis, 39th Air Base Wing public affairs officer. "Pay attention to the annual IA training many of us click through mindlessly in order to the check the block, and do your part to keep our information safe."

By becoming more involved and implementing safeguard procedures we can help wing IA and organizational IAO's, ensure that we are Forward, Ready, Now, in our mission through cyberspace by the highest extent possible.

"Incirlik AB surety mission would not succeed without the measures put in place to provide secure communications," said Ryan. "IA is important because it literally impacts every single member of Team Incirlik."