Cybersecurity has moved from an information technology (IT)-level discussion to a boardroom-level and now a kitchen table discussion.
Our world is changing, and the more connected we become to our environments, the more vulnerable we are as individuals, agencies and subsequently as a nation. Recent revelations have proven that bad actors and nation states have infiltrated parts of our critical infrastructure, communications systems, and public and private sector organizations.
President Donald Trump’s administration officials have noted that the nation has traditionally played defense when it comes to cybersecurity—a stance that ultimately falls short when the country is continually subject to millions of attacks each day. They are stating that a more aggressive cybersecurity stance is critical and that we have the people and resources within our intelligence and defense sector to do that. If we were attacked militarily by an adversary, we would respond accordingly rather than focusing on why our defenses failed.
This approach has clear support from several Republican senators, who sent a letter to the president and cyber, defense, national security and intelligence cabinet leaders, stating, “We possess the most powerful offensive cyber systems in the world, and when an adversary attacks our people, government and critical infrastructure, there must be an appropriate response.”
The administration will continue to face cyber attacks against the nation that are growing in size, frequency and complexity. Government leaders must establish clear lines of demarcation and responsibilities for cyber offensive operations between agencies to ensure harmonization between policies and the activities of various agencies. This alignment and focus would enhance the country’s cybersecurity posture away from one that merely plays defense.
For example, the United States has not mapped out clear “red lines” to tell our adversaries that specific types of actions, such as a cyber attack impacting critical infrastructure elements like our electric grid, will immediately trigger a retaliatory response.
