Reflecting on the progress made in President Biden's National Cybersecurity Strategy, which emphasizes collaboration and protection of digital systems, including defending critical infrastructure, disrupting threat actors, shaping market forces, driving investments in resilience, and forging international partnerships.
Defending Critical Infrastructure: Strengthening Preparedness and Proactive Protection
( Credit to: Hstoday )
In line with President Biden's National Cybersecurity Strategy, the first pillar focuses on defending critical infrastructure. A partnership between the Office of the National Cyber Director (ONCD) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has led to the development and publication of multiple exercise scenarios. These scenarios empower owners and operators of sectors such as healthcare, water, maritime transportation, chemical facilities, and commercial facilities to enhance their preparedness and proactively protect against cyber threats from nation-states and malicious actors.
By engaging in these exercises, organizations can identify vulnerabilities, strengthen their cybersecurity measures, and develop effective incident response plans. The collaboration between the public and private sectors is crucial in safeguarding our critical infrastructure, as it ensures a comprehensive and unified approach to cybersecurity.
Furthermore, these exercises serve as valuable learning opportunities, enabling participants to share best practices and lessons learned. This collective knowledge contributes to the continuous improvement of cybersecurity measures, making our critical infrastructure more resilient against evolving threats.
Disrupting and Dismantling Threat Actors: A Persistent Engagement Approach
The second pillar of President Biden's National Cybersecurity Strategy focuses on disrupting and dismantling threat actors. The Department of Defense released its new Cyber Strategy, emphasizing the incorporation of cyber into all-domain deterrence and the persistent engagement of malicious cyber actors.
This approach involves actively identifying and countering cyber threats, both domestically and internationally. The Department of Justice has also escalated its efforts to disrupt malicious operations, increasing the speed and scale of these operations to effectively counter cyber threats.
By adopting a persistent engagement approach, the United States aims to create a deterrent effect, making it more difficult for threat actors to operate with impunity. This proactive stance sends a strong message that malicious cyber activities will not be tolerated and will be met with swift and decisive action.
Shaping Market Forces for Security and Resilience: Strengthening Cybersecurity Standards
The third pillar of the National Cybersecurity Strategy focuses on shaping market forces to drive security and resilience. The Office of Management and Budget has proposed changes to the federal government's procurement of 'Internet of Things' (IoT) devices, ensuring they meet stringent security standards.
These changes aim to raise the bar for businesses seeking to sell IoT devices to the government, thereby improving the cybersecurity of connected devices. By setting higher security standards, the government can influence the market to prioritize security and resilience in IoT devices.
Additionally, these changes have a ripple effect on the private sector and consumers. As businesses adapt to meet the government's security requirements, they also enhance the security of IoT devices available to the general public. This ultimately benefits all users by mitigating the risks associated with insecure IoT devices.
Driving Investments in a Resilient Future: Advancing Cybersecurity Standards
The fourth pillar of the National Cybersecurity Strategy emphasizes the importance of driving investments in a resilient future. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) plays a key role in this aspect, actively working to ensure the federal government, in collaboration with industry, remains at the forefront of cybersecurity standards development.
By continuously updating and improving cybersecurity standards, the government and industry can adapt to emerging threats and technological advancements. This commitment to cybersecurity standards is crucial for both national security and maintaining economic competitiveness on the global stage.
Furthermore, driving investments in a resilient future involves fostering innovation and research in cybersecurity. By supporting research and development initiatives, the United States can stay ahead of cyber threats and cultivate a skilled workforce capable of addressing evolving challenges.
Forging International Partnerships: Collaborating for Global Cybersecurity
The fifth pillar of President Biden's National Cybersecurity Strategy highlights the importance of forging international partnerships to pursue shared cybersecurity goals. The State Department's Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy was established to build and strengthen international coalitions against malicious cyber actors.
Simultaneously, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration has awarded substantial grants from the Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund to test the security of open, interoperable wireless networks. This shift towards open networks, built by the US and its allies, ensures national security is not compromised by vendors from nations that pose threats.
By collaborating with international partners, the United States can leverage collective expertise, intelligence, and resources to combat cyber threats that transcend national borders. These partnerships facilitate information sharing, joint exercises, and coordinated responses, strengthening our collective defenses and promoting a safer digital environment globally.
Conclusion: Progress, Collaboration, and a Secure Digital Future
Since the release of President Biden's National Cybersecurity Strategy, significant progress has been made across all pillars of the plan. The collaboration between government agencies, private sectors, and international partners has strengthened our collective defenses against cyber threats.
Through exercises, proactive engagement, market influence, investment in resilience, and international cooperation, the United States is working towards a more secure digital future. However, the ever-evolving nature of cyber threats requires continued investment in cybersecurity, adaptation to market forces, and strong international partnerships.
By doing so, we can protect our economy, infrastructure, democracy, and national security in an increasingly digital world. Together, we can build a resilient and secure digital ecosystem that benefits individuals, organizations, and nations alike.
