Dive Brief:
- Improving public-private collaboration, broadening the use of authentication and increasing investments in security R&D were among the initial recommendations offered by the Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity, according to a statement published by the Obama administration last week.
- Other recommendations included investing further in human capital and tech education and "furthering the promotion of international norms of responsible state behavior."
- President Barack Obama established the nonpartisan commission in February 2016 to help enhance U.S. cybersecurity efforts. The Commission includes leaders from industry and academia.
Dive Insight:
"The Commission’s report makes clear that cybersecurity is one of the greatest challenges we face as a nation," Obama said in the statement.
Obama also asked the commission to brief President-elect Donald Trump about their findings. Obama has made cybersecurity a priority, especially over the last year following several embarrassing federal data breaches. In addition to creating the commission, the administration increased the federal cybersecurity investment by 35%, citing the need to modernize outdated technology, create a coordinated approach to federal cybersecurity and improve the IT workforce gaps.
Trump has shared few detailed plans about his cybersecurity strategy so far. He previously called for the creation of a Cyber Review Team that could provide recommendations about how to safeguard "different entities with the best defense technologies tailored to the likely threats," according to his platform. Thus far Trump has not further addressed cybersecurity, save for comments that he wants to form a "comprehensive plan" to protect infrastructure from all forms of attack, including cyberattacks.
