In today’s digital world, staying at the forefront of cybersecurity practices is critical for national security. Continuous increases in both the number and variety of cyberattacks now characterize this domain, and the U.S. government has taken many steps to keep pace with this constantly transforming environment.
Hear public and private sector cyber leaders share their insights on key topics shaping this evolving domain at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2024 Cyber Summit on June 6! The event will convene subject matter experts from across the GovCon field to discuss the most notable cyber challenges and opportunities the U.S. government is prioritizing. To learn more and register to attend the summit, click here.
Current U.S. cybersecurity initiatives are informed by many factors, both agency-specific and government-wide. A major policy shaping these endeavors is the May 2021 Executive Order on Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity, which called on the U.S. government to “improve its efforts to identify, deter, protect against, detect, and respond to” actors behind cyber attacks.
In March 2023, the White House strengthened its push to fortify U.S. cybersecurity with the release of the National Cybersecurity Strategy, a comprehensive document that lays out five pillars of focus for future U.S. cybersecurity efforts: defending critical infrastructure; disrupting and dismantling threat actors; shaping market forces to drive security and resilience; investing in a resilient future; and forging international partnerships to pursue shared goals.
On a broader scale, the strategy aims to “rebalance the responsibility to defend cyberspace” and “realign incentives to favor long-term investments.”
Just months after its release, the White House shared an implementation plan that identified 65 relevant initiatives, each of which is overseen by a specific agency.
The Department of Defense released its 2023 Cyber Strategy in September as an internal supplement to these White House policies as well as its 2022 National Defense Strategy. This plan is split into three major focus areas: defending the nation; preparing to fight and win the nation’s wars; protecting the cyber domain with allies and partners; and building enduring advantages in cyberspace.
On Thursday, The DOD expanded its cybersecurity efforts to include the defense industrial base through the newly-published Defense Industrial Base Cybersecurity Strategy (DIB CS). This new guidance is built around four major goals, including strengthening the DOD governance structure for DIB cybersecurity, enhancing the cybersecurity posture of DIB contractors, preserving the resiliency of critical DIB capabilities in a cyber-contested environment and improving collaboration with the DIB.
Many other federal agencies have developed their own cyber strategies. In August, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency published its three-pronged FY 2024-2026 Cybersecurity Strategic Plan. It aims to address immediate cyber threats, harden the terrain and drive security at scale to maintain security in today’s cyber landscape.
Learn more about key federal cybersecurity initiatives at the 2024 Cyber Summit! Click here to register.
