Described by the White House as “bold new steps,” President Donald Trump has announced a new framework with a series of initiatives to boost federal cyberdefenses.
Released today, the National Cyber Strategy expands on a May 2017 executive order aimed at strengthening the security of federal networks and critical infrastructure. To do so, the strategy outlines steps to:
- Further centralize management and oversight of federal civilian cybersecurity;
- Align risk management and IT activities;
- Improve federal supply chain risk management; and
- Boost federal contractor cyberdefenses
The new plan stresses protection for U.S. networks while also combating cyber crime and enhancing incident reporting. Part of that involves efforts to modernize electronic surveillance and computer crime laws and strengthening partner nations’ law enforcement capacity to fight cyber crime.
The White House’s announcement said the plan will promote U.S. prosperity by fostering “a vibrant and resilient digital economy” and safeguarding U.S. intellectual property theft and creating a “superior cybersecurity workforce through education and recruitment.” Among the related priority actions are the launch of a next-generation telecom and information communications infrastructure and working with legislators “to promote and reinvigorate educational and training opportunities to develop a robust cybersecurity workforce.”
“This includes expanding Federal recruitment, training, re-skilling people from a broad range of backgrounds, and giving them opportunities to re-train into cybersecurity careers,” according to the strategy.
The strategy also aims to prevent “destabilizing” online activity by the launch of an international Cyber Deterrence Initiative and ensuring ramifications for adversarial online behavior. The framework also highlights calling out and thwarting “online malign influence and information campaigns” by working with partners such as foreign governments, industry and academia to “identify, counter, and prevent the use of digital platforms for malign foreign influence operations while respecting civil rights and liberties.”