Moving Forward: Fundamental Change
The time to act is now. As a nation, we need to move past simply studying our cybersecurity challenges and begin taking meaningful steps to improve our cybersecurity to prevent a major debilitating cyber attack.
The Working Group appreciates the Administration’s attention on key issues that were continuously reiterated during this study, including the need to build and sustain a cyber workforce, identify strategies to deter adversaries, and to examine our readiness to respond to a major cyber attack on our electric grid.
National Vision and Leadership
We envision a national strategy—championed by senior leaders—that will allow government and industry to harness capabilities to successfully deter and withstand aggressive cyber attacks. Achieving a shared vision will require significant near-term and long-term commitments to ultimately achieve:
- Strong public support and political will to act in support of cybersecurity as a national priority.
- Strong leadership from the most senior levels of government and the private sector.
- Federal cyber authorities and capabilities are aligned, coordinated, and easily accessible across government and the private sector.
- Businesses receive incentives and technical assistance to meet basic standards for cybersecurity.
- The nation is positioned to effectively protect and defend against cyber attacks, mitigate the impact of cyber attacks, and quickly respond and recover following an incident.
- The United States is a world leader in cybersecurity. USA, Inc.—the concept of the public and private sector working seamlessly together like a unified business unit—has cemented its position as a world leader in cyber technology and cyber workforce.
Our nation needs direction and leadership to dramatically reduce cyber risks. The NIAC stands ready to continue to support the President in this area.