Information assurance is emerging as a critical component of DoD operational readiness. When effective, information assurance enables the systems and networks composing the Defense information infrastructure to provide protected, continuous, and dependable service in support of both warfighting and business missions. On December 301 1999, the Deputy Secretary of Defense issued a memorandum, "Department of Defense Information Assurance Vulnerability Alert." which stated that information assurance is an essential element of operational readiness and can no longer be relegated to a secondary concern.