According to the Department of Homeland Security?s website, the Homeland Security Advanced Projects Agency (HSARPA) ?has an essential role in meeting the goals and objectives of the Department and the Directorate through research and development, and technology maturation in industry and academia. HSARPA?s primary goals are to satisfy operational needs, conduct rapid prototyping and commercial adaptation, and finally to research revolutionary options.? HSARPA?s investment in Komoku Inc., a start-up focused on detecting and eliminating rootkit infections, is significant because it puts into action this promising model for future collaboration between the government, academia, and the private sector.

The government?s joint collaboration with academia and the private sector has the potential to generate enormous returns in the form of increased cyber defense from small investments. For example, HSARPA invested a paltry $600,000 in 2005 in Komoku. Komoku, in turn, used these funds to develop its rootkit detection and removal tool. HSARPA plans to invest a similar amount into Komoko in 2006 as the company looks to releasing its product to the market. Should Komoko?s product be a commercial success, it will help deter the use of rootkits by cyber criminals.