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The Cyberspace Solarium Commission
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Introduction
The Cyberspace Solarium Commission (CSC) was built in 2019 to create a
comprehensive strategy to counter cyber threats to the United States. The first report was
published in March 2020 and included more than 80 suggestions to increase the national level
of cyber security. In 2021, the Commission published an annual report evaluating the steps to
implement these proposals. This paper assesses the progress in implementing the
recommendations suggested in the original report, critiques by scholars regarding the report,
and examines ethical, technical, business, and defense-related issues in the findings and
future course of action.
Progress in Addressing Recommendations
Key Achievements
The annual report for 2021 lists several critical successes. The Office of the National
Cyber Director (NCD) plays a significant role in coordinating federal cyber security.
Incremental advances have also deepened partnerships between the public and private
domains, which is critical to a practical cybersecurity framework. For example, CISA is
enhancing its cooperation with private partners on issues related to the exchange of threat
intelligence and management of cyber threats.
Another impressive milestone is the enhancement of supply chain security. The
federal government has been taking steps to acquire and protect information and
communications technology supply chains since some adversaries may take advantage of
existing gaps. Moreover, the creation of CISA's Joint Cyber Planning Office is considered to
enhance planning and integrate more sectors for preemption against cyber threats.
Ongoing Challenges
However, a few issues are still experienced, as highlighted below. Still, one major
problem is that the legislative process needs to be revised. Some of the proposals that the
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Commission has been putting forward need legislative action, and this has yet to be a smooth
process. Because of the stringent measures incorporated in cyber security legislation and
politics and the need for more consensus on the bill, political stalling hinders prompt
enactment of measures. For example, CISA witnessed some strides in formulating a national
cyber incident response plan, but it has yet to be fully adopted across the critical
infrastructure sectors. This is because large segments of the crucial infrastructure of this
country remain exposed to the risks of cyber threats while large-scale and aligned protective
measures are still being developed. This needs to be revised, particularly considering the
steady rise and sophistication of the cyber dangers aimed at our economy's core sectors,
including energy, healthcare, and transport.
Another significant issue is the need for more personnel to protect information
security, which remains acute today. The scarcity of competent cyber security personnel
ensures that most institutions and companies cannot adequately protect their digital assets or
deal with cyber threats. Cyber jobs involve problem-solving, planning, and an understanding
of technical skills that can only be acquired over time and thus can hardly be ramped up.
There are endeavors to enhance cyber security education and the labor market, but this
division has yet to be closed.
Scholarly Opinions
Critical Analysis
For instance, significant scholars have adopted the approach adopted by the
Cyberspace Solarium Commission (CSC). As Reeder & Hall ( 2021) noted in their recent
report, the Commission observes that the recommendations adequately respond to the
divergence and complexity of cyber threats. They like the emphasis on PPP, stating that
government and private enterprises should support each other in tackling cyber themes.
Establishing the NCD is a positive step toward a concerted approach to the issue of cyber
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security, with defined roles and responsibilities in developing policies for the entire United
States of America.
However, scholars have noted some drawbacks in the report, as outlined below. For
instance, Nizich (2023) explains that while the CSC is geared towards defense and resilience,
it needs to prescribe a clear vision for offense in cyberspace or deterrence. As stated by
Goodman, it might be somewhat unwise for America to rely only on defensive actions
because the threats are frequent and evolving. In his words, the best defense is an offense; in
other words, he feels that the best way to deal with opponents is by defending while
attacking. As the preceding analysis has illustrated, offensive capacities can deter potential
aggressors by notifying them that the United States can still reply and inflict significant costs
upon individuals who aim to endanger American cyberspaces.
Ethical Issues
It is essential to acknowledge that ethics remains at the core of the assessment of
cyber security policies. Another critic has regarded privacy as the primary ethical concern
that will be infringed upon with improved cyber security measures. Lupovici (2021) posited
that although safeguarding national security is paramount, citizens' privacy and liberty
freedoms should not be sacrificed for this purpose. The problem can be seen in the attempts
to strike a balance between safety and privacy, where cyber security threatens the latter by
raising the risk of surveillance and the further infringement of rights.
Improved security sometimes requires analyzing traffic, gathering information about
threats, or reading individuals' data. These factors raise questions about the justification for
taking such measures and the protection available for citizens. Some social factors scholars
have highlighted as essential components of implementing cyber security policies include the
following: Without these, national security may be relied on as a reason for over bureaucracy
and dictatorship, which curtail fundamental rights.
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Ethical, Technical, Business, and Defense-Based Aspects
Ethical Aspects
The ethical consequences of the CSC's recommendations are rather worrying.
Improving cyber security may require tracking and gathering information about cyberspace
activities and issues that may violate individual privacy and civil liberties. Measures that
guarantee the protection of individuals' privacy and, at the same time, enhance national
security are needed. More importantly, a transparent oversight and accountability regime is
needed to avoid exploiting power and guarantee that security measures are ethical.
Technical Aspects
From a technical standpoint, the most important of the CSC's suggestions is that
further improved cybersecurity technologies should be applied. This includes adopting zero-
trust architectures, enhancing threat intelligence capabilities, and securing industrial control
systems. The technical challenges remain complex, even though the threats continue to
develop relatively quickly (Holt et al., 2022). Therefore, incorporating new technologies in
society and ensuring that both the government and private entities use those technologies is
paramount in improving the nation's security.
Business Aspects
The CSC's recommendation also has significant business implications that cannot be
ignored. Building more robust cyber security protection requires more investment than the
government and businesses can offer. Although such investments are mandatory for
safeguarding an organization against cyber threats, they are expensive. The need for more
resources leaves small and medium-sized enterprises struggling to incorporate advanced
cybersecurity measures. It imposes a significant cost on businesses, and partnerships with
private organizations and governmental aid can prevent businesses from effectively lacking
coverage.
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Defense-Based Aspects
Regarding the defense-based aspects of the CSC's recommendations, emphasis is
placed on safeguarding essential infrastructures and enhancing the nation's cyber security.
This also includes improving the capacities of the DOD and other federal agencies to
identify, prevent, and mitigate cyber threats. Cooperation and partnership with other countries
should also be enhanced because cyber threats affect different countries. The Collective
defense potentially improves international cyber security by putting off actors who seek to
hinder it.
Priority for the US
According to (2020), the topic that should be considered a priority for the USA is the
cyber security workforce shortage. The element of an efficient and qualified employee is the
last significant component that technologies and strategies cannot replace. It is crucial to
dedicate resources to developing cybersecurity education and training initiatives and to
support the adoption of cybersecurity careers.
Implementation of Commission's Recommendations around the World
According to the CSC's recommendation, they should, therefore, be considered for
adoption by nations across the world. Activism is not a localized phenomenon but a
worldwide problem for which collective action is required. The nations ought to agree on
achieving a more coherent cyber security structure to enhance cooperation on threat
intelligence exchanges and incident management. However, it is vital to apply the
recommendations within the local conditions of different states to guarantee the efficiency of
the measures taken.
Recent Importance and Application to My Life
The CSC's relevance to the present can be explained solely by the fact that cyberspace
threats are constantly emerging. Due to the continuous improvement in technological
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development, the strategies used by cyber enemies are also improving. These threats,
therefore, require constant evaluation and adjustment of cyber security efforts to prevent and
respond to them. Besides, the report becomes a reference point in assessing the effectiveness
of cyber security initiatives in the country and opportunities for their development.
Notable among the trends is the increasing focus on public-private partnerships. A potent
manifestation of cyber security cannot work independently of the government or the private
sector, as both provide distinct resources and strengths. The third important discovery is the
requirement to aim for an appropriate measure involving defense and the ability to attack in
cyberspace. Security begins with the notion of deterrence, and these issues need to be
considered when developing a broad strategy to prevent cyber threats.
Conclusion
In their 2018 initial and 2021 annual reports, the Cyberspace Solarium Commission
lays down a comprehensive strategy for improving the nation's cyber security. Though
progress has been noted in implementing the proposed recommendations, issues like talent
shortage and legislative barriers still need to be addressed. Expert opinions are analyzed, and
scholars provide helpful suggestions concerning the strengths and weaknesses of the report
scholars offer. Regarding cyber security policies, ethical, technical, business, and defense-
based considerations should always be considered. The first on the list of recommendations
for the US should address the shortfall in the cyber security workforce, and implementing the
Commission's recommendations can improve international collaboration. As pointed out in
the CSC's 2013 report, cyber threats are constantly shifting, and the CSC's work remains
highly pertinent and continually evolving.
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References
Cuéllar, M.-F., & Huq, A. Z. (2020). Economies of surveillance. JSTOR.
https://www.jstor.org/stable/26895660
Holt, T. J., Bossler, A. M., & Seigfried-Spellar, K. C. (2022). Cybercrime and digital
forensics: An introduction. Routledge.
https://www. taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10.4324/9780429343223/cybercrime-
digital-forensics-thomas-holt-adam-bossler-kathryn-seigfried-spellar
Lupovici, A. (2021). The dog that did not bark, the dog that did bark, and the dog that should
have barked: A methodology for cyber deterrence research. International Studies
Review, 23(4), 1672–1698.
https://academic.oup.com/isr/article-abstract/23/4/1672/6329772
Nizich, M. (2023). An Introduction to the Field of Cybersecurity and the Current Workforce
Gap. In The Cybersecurity Workforce of Tomorrow (pp. 1–35). Emerald Group
Publishing Limited. https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/978-1-
80382-915-920231002/full/html
Reeder, J. R., & Hall, T. (2021). Cybersecurity's Pearl Harbor moment. The Cyber Defense
Review, 6(3), 15–40. https://www.jstor.org/stable/48631153
