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US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff delivered a keynote at San Francisco's RSA Security Conference and talked about what advances the government is making in handling cyber threats. He said he would like to see the federal government develop an early warning system that could mitigate cyber attacks before they occur.

Michael Chertoff
Secretary, US Homeland Security
I do believe we have the capability now to detect what might be the signature of an attack before it's launched and integrating that capability with our defensive systems is a critical element of where we have to head to protect the federal domain.

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Chertoff's department is looking to partner with the private sector on security issues, but also made it clear what his department is not interested in doing.

Michael Chertoff
Secretary, US Homeland Security
We have no interest or intention of duplicating a system here like you see in some other countries that I won't name where the government tries to sit over the internet and prevent things from coming in that they don't like. That is not what we want to do and that is not what we will do. What we do want to do is enable those who are interested in working with us to get some of the benefit of what we're able to discover and learn so that you can protect your own assets. And I do say that as responsible corporate citizens and as stewards of your own businesses you'll want to carefully consider that invitation when the time is right and evaluate whether you think we can bring a value-add above and beyond what we've already brought.

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A Presidential Directive signed in January gave the DHS the go-ahead to beef up computer system security throughout the government

Michael Chertoff
Those who will cause us harm are continually adapting and refining their techniques so that they can be more skillful at the kinds of damage that they want to carry out. Therefore the time has come to take a quantum leap forward. To really engage in what I would call a game changer and how we can deal with the issues of attacks first and foremost on the federal government and then secondarily working with the private sector to protect all of what we depend upon in our modern world.

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The DHS has created a National Cyber Security Center to do this new work. It will be headed by Rob Beckstrom, an Internet entrepreneur who founded Cats Software and Twiki.net. Chertoff hopes that the desire to serve will drive others join the team.

Michael Chertoff
But I can tell you that what can motivate people is the desire to serve. My department is full of people, the military is full of people, who left investment banking jobs, big law firms, lucrative jobs to come to work because they believed in something and you get really great experience and responsibility. It is ultimately an appeal to doing something for the common good as opposed to your own enrichment.

Unknown reporter off camera
And what kind of reaction are you getting from silicon valley companies? Are people signing up?

Michael Chertoff
Well Rod Beckstrom is a great example. That's number one and now I'm optimistic. As I've said, I've seen people in all walks of life leaving very comfortable, cushy jobs because they believe this is important. I'm optimistic that people in the IT area are going to be as selfless as lawyers and investment bankers and other people who've done this.

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For the IDG News Service, I'm Nick Barber in Boston with additional reporting by Robert McMillan in San Francisco.