cyber security

The required reading discussed the growing cyber threat and expressed the need to have collaboration between the federal agencies and the private sector. One key point made by the Director of National Intelligence James Clapper was how imperative protecting the nation’s critical infrastructure would be. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce states 85% of the critical infrastructures are owned and operated by the private sector. These statistics support the call to work together and puts the necessity into perspective. The Executive Order prompting the National Institute of Science Technology (NIST) requirements for critical infrastructures and federal agencies to follow would be inherited by the private sectors running the infrastructures.

Brian Harrell with CSO explains that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has taken specific steps to address the cyber threats. One of the steps is the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center (NCCIC) which provides information sharing, technical assistance, and incident response. Another useful tool set up by the DHS was the revision of the National Cyber Incident Response Plan (NCIRP) to better react to cyber threats to infrastructures.

The federal agencies and private sector have developed a better partnership to combat the growing threats and attacks. Now, this trend needs to grow as the threats continue to grow.

Harrell, B. (February 1, 2017). The private sector is the key to success for the Department of Homeland Security. Retrieved from https://www.csoonline.com/article/3161793/security/the-private-sector-is-the-key-to-success-for-the-department-of-homeland-security.html

U.S. Chamber of Commerce. (n.d.).  Critical Infrastructure Protection, Information Sharing and Cyber Security. Retrieved from https://www.uschamber.com/issue-brief/critical-infrastructure-protection-information-sharing-and-cyber-security