CXO, Policy, Security

President Signs Cybersecurity Order; White House Cyber Czar Speaks in Boston

On May 11th, President Trump signed an executive order on “Strengthening the Cybersecurity of Federal Networks and Critical Infrastructure.”  The order lays out three priorities — Cybersecurity of Federal Networks, Cybersecurity of Critical Infrastructure, and Cybersecurity for the Nation. According to the order, the policies in each areas are as follows:

  1. Cybersecurity of Federal Networks – “The executive branch operates its information technology (IT) on behalf of the American people. Its IT and data should be secured responsibly using all United States Government capabilities.  The President will hold heads of executive departments and agencies (agency heads) accountable for managing cybersecurity risk to their enterprises.  In addition, because risk management decisions made by agency heads can affect the risk to the executive branch as a whole, and to national security, it is also the policy of the United States to manage cybersecurity risk as an executive branch enterprise.”
  2. Cybersecurity of Critical Infrastructure – “It is the policy of the executive branch to use its authorities and capabilities to support the cybersecurity risk management efforts of the owners and operators of the Nation’s critical infrastructure…, as appropriate.”
  3. Cybersecurity for the Nation – “To ensure that the internet remains valuable for future generations, it is the policy of the executive branch to promote an open, interoperable, reliable, and secure internet that fosters efficiency, innovation, communication, and economic prosperity, while respecting privacy and guarding against disruption, fraud, and theft. Further, the United States seeks to support the growth and sustainment of a workforce that is skilled in cybersecurity and related fields as the foundation for achieving our objectives in cyberspace.”

This executive order comes at an important time as it reflects the fact that data is becoming increasingly valuable — and vulnerable. It also reflects the urgent need for growing our cybersecurity workforce.

As industries transform and we move towards an integrated digital-physical world both the rewards and risks increase. Security is at the core of our interconnected future. Companies, organizations, educators, public sectors, and consumers need to be vigilant 100% of the time, yet bad actors need only succeed once to achieve their aims, while inflicting immeasurable damage.

Massachusetts continues to be a leader in security vigilance, but there is room for improvement. We must work together, smarter, proactively, and more networked. Bad actors are networked and share vulnerabilities and malware. It is incumbent upon the good actors to share threat information and countermeasures to stay one step ahead.

Together the MassTLC Security Community and CyberMA have created platforms for like-minded technology leaders and businesses to share insights and real-time threat information, while providing input into the policies that will balance the need for cybersecurity with that of innovation and growth.

Join the conversation on May 22nd at Securing the Connected Commonwealth – CyberMA Launch, featuring:

  • Rob Joyce, Special Assistant to the President and White House Cybersecurity Coordinator;
  • Rodney Petersen, Director of the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST);
  • Phil Bond, Executive Director, CyberUSA
  • and other key leaders

Details & registration

 

 

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