New US National Cyber Director

Christopher Inglis (pictured), the US’s first-ever National Cyber Director, is building out his office with an inaugural strategic intent statement. 

One of the early efforts of the new National Cyber Director is to tackle how to strengthen the critical infrastructure of the United States. 

The key to approaching that overwhelming task is to drive coordination across the federal government and the critical sectors, and to identify the crucial elements that connect each component, versus trying to protect all sectors at once, which is not quite possible, explained Inglis.

In particular, Inglis says he wants the government to take a tougher, more proactive approach to those who threaten America’s networks: degrade their capabilities and demonstrate how they would suffer should they attack.

The office plans to focus on both national and federal cyber security, assessing and reviewing budgets, supply chain security, planning and incident response, workforce development and working with Congress and the private sector.

Inglis said that technology is supposed to ease our lives, to enable self-betterment, to bring us closer to our loved ones and to our ambitions.  "Digital connectivity is not some occasionally destructive force of nature to be dispassionately tracked and mitigated, but a transformational tool to be wielded in furtherance of our highest ambitions... Recent history has forced us to predominantly consider cyber security in negative terms, which hackers must be stopped, vulnerabilities patched, and activities condemned, sanctioned, or disrupted. It is easy to forget that cyberspace was originally built to enrich our lives."

Malicious activity in cyberspace has become irresistibly attractive to geopolitical competitors and criminals alike. It enables a level of anonymity, of global reach, and of efficiency of scale that equips countries with asymmetric capabilities that challenge conventional conceptions of defense and deterrence.

Criminals and extremists similarly have the capabilities to threaten unprecedented levels of disruption and coercion. 

Inglis outlined how his office will coordinate the various agencies and entities tasked with defending against and  responding to cyber attacks. He and his staff will shape and coordinate budgets, ensure that federal cybersecurity operators are at least as good as their private counterparts, watch for emerging vulnerabilities in digital supply chains, and more.

Another major task for Inglis will be ensuring the federal government takes a consistent approach to helping critical infrastructure operators.

Inglis is still setting up his new office, which lacks permanent funding and is instead drawing from a White House contingency budget. He said he’s spoken to “dozens” of potential staffers and that many of them are in the process of joining his team, which Congress envisioned eventually growing to 75 people. “If we were to say that there are 16 critical infrastructures ... and if we were then to further imply that everything inside of every one of those 16 critical infrastructures should be defended with equal fealties, we find ourselves pretty quickly exhausted,” the director concluded. 

The Whitehouse:   DefenseOne:     AFCEA:      Politico:       Cyberscoop:   Meritalk:   

You Might Also Read: 

US Cyber Security Chiefs Support Mandatory Incident Reporting:

 

« British Manufacturing Severely Affected By Cyber Attacks
REvil Ransomware Gang Leader Identified »

CyberSecurity Jobsite
Perimeter 81

Directory of Suppliers

NordLayer

NordLayer

NordLayer is an adaptive network access security solution for modern businesses — from the world’s most trusted cybersecurity brand, Nord Security. 

Authentic8

Authentic8

Authentic8 transforms how organizations secure and control the use of the web with Silo, its patented cloud browser.

CYRIN

CYRIN

CYRIN® Cyber Range. Real Tools, Real Attacks, Real Scenarios. See why leading educational institutions and companies in the U.S. have begun to adopt the CYRIN® system.

Jooble

Jooble

Jooble is a job search aggregator operating in 71 countries worldwide. We simplify the job search process by displaying active job ads from major job boards and career sites across the internet.

Syxsense

Syxsense

Syxsense brings together endpoint management and security for greater efficiency and collaboration between IT management and security teams.

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)

DARPA's mission is to develop breakthrough technologies for national security. The Information Innovation Office undertakes cyber security activities.

SOTI

SOTI

SOTI is an industry leader in Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM).

Paladion

Paladion

Paladion is a provider of managed IT security services.

National Defense Industry Association (NDIA)

National Defense Industry Association (NDIA)

The National Defense Industrial Association Cyber Division contributes to US national security by promoting interaction between the cyber defense industry, government and military.

cPacket Networks

cPacket Networks

cPacket’s distributed intelligence enables network operators to proactively identify imminent issues before they negatively impact end-users.

Acutec

Acutec

Acutec is an award winning IT support, services and solutions provider including managed IT Security and backup/disaster recovery.

Miradore

Miradore

Miradore is a software company specializing in effective, cloud-based device management. Our goal is to help IT Service Providers and IT departments secure and control devices.

Lightship Security

Lightship Security

Lightship Security is an accredited Common Criteria and FIPS 140-2 IT security testing laboratory that specializes in test conformance automation solutions and IT product security certifications.

IdentityIQ

IdentityIQ

IdentityIQ is a US-based identity theft and credit protection company designed to help users stay on top identity thieves and data breaches.

David Hayes-Export Controls

David Hayes-Export Controls

David Hayes-Export Controls provides assistance to companies affected by export controls or who are considering entering the market but are unsure of the commercial and regulatory implications.

Moviri

Moviri

Moviri combines security technology engineering, intelligence expertise and our data science DNA to help companies manage digital risk end-to-end.

Tabidus Technology

Tabidus Technology

Tabidus Technology is a cybersecurity association that unites and provides the global protection options against cyber threats.

Sollensys

Sollensys

Sollensys is a leader in commercial blockchain applications. Our flagship product, The Blockchain Archive Server™ is the best defense against the devastating financial loss that ransomware causes.

ShellBoxes

ShellBoxes

ShellBoxes are a leading Web3 company focused on providing top-notch blockchain security and development services.

S2W

S2W

S2W is a data intelligence company specialized in cyber threat intelligence, brand/digital abuse, and blockchain.

Gleam Cloud Security Solutions (GCSS)

Gleam Cloud Security Solutions (GCSS)

GCSS Security is an information security firm providing cyber security protection with a highly skilled and experienced team focused on technology that creates best-in-class customer experiences.