Homeland Security Information Network

{{Short description|Government communication network}}

The Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN) is a web-based platform, run by the Department of Homeland Security, which is designed to allow local, state, tribal, and federal government agencies to share "Sensitive But Unclassified (SBU)" information with each other over a secure channel.{{cite web|url=https://www.dhs.gov/files/programs/gc_1156888108137.shtm|title=Homeland Security Information Network|work=Department of Homeland Security (official site)|access-date=18 December 2009}}{{cite web|url=http://www.fema.gov/emergency/nrf/HSIN.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080706191556/http://www.fema.gov/emergency/nrf/HSIN.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 July 2008 |title=Homeland Security Information Network |work=FEMA (official site) |access-date=18 December 2009 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d07822t.pdf|title=GAO-07-822T Information Technology: Homeland Security Information Network|work=US Government Accountability Office (GAO)|access-date=18 December 2009}}

The HSIN provides three main functional categories. First, it provides a SharePoint web portal system which allows agencies and events to have a basic workspace for collaboration. Second, it provides a Jabber chat system, with user managed rooms. Third, it provides the Common Operational Picture, a custom executive situational awareness web application based on Oracle HTML DB.{{cite web|last=Phillips |first=Theresa |title=HSIN Overview |url=http://www.disasterhelp.gov/disastermanagement/library/archive/070606HSIN.ppt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090117051906/http://www.disasterhelp.gov/disastermanagement/library/archive/070606HSIN.ppt |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 January 2009 |publisher=DisasterHelp |access-date=6 May 2011 }}

The Department of Homeland Security has publicly announced that the network has so far been hacked at least twice in 2009—once in March and once in April.{{cite news|url=http://www.fcw.com/Articles/2009/05/13/Web-DHS-HSIN-intrusion-hack.aspx|title=Information-sharing platform hacked|last=Bain|first=Ben|date=May 13, 2009|work=Federal Computer Week|access-date=18 December 2009}}