The American Edge Project recently released a paper outlining the importance of securing American digital power in the wake of increasing cyberattacks. The paper focused on two key components of mitigating cyber threats: Incentivizing the private sector to maintain and invest in cyber protections, and, conversely, ensuring that the public sector is ready and able to respond to cyberattacks.

With regard to private entities, the paper says, “In the case of the recent SolarWinds hack, a nation state – likely Russia – gained access to U.S. public and private servers through unfair advantage…U.S. industry then supported the U.S. government in determining the scope and methods of the attack. Were it not for the innovation in the private sector, a foreign state might still be unknowingly expanding its presence on private U.S. networks.” The public sector also has a distinct role to play in cybersecurity endeavors. The paper proposes that the U.S. government incorporate more recommendations of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission (CSC) saying, “One CSC recommendation of relevance following the SolarWinds hack is to codify a ‘Cyber State of Distress’ to ensure the government has adequate resources to respond to a cyber incident.” Further, “The CSC also endorsed having relevant U.S. agencies like Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) share information and analysis with industry on threats of shared concern, including supply chain security and cyber threats.”

For both innovative and national security purposes, U.S. industry must work hand in hand with the U.S. Government to maintain and build a cybersecurity apparatus that meets the challenges our nation confronts or the costs will be dire.

Read the full paper here.

 

The national security policy framework was published by the American Edge Project along with the following contributing authors:

  • Admiral James Stavridis, USN (Ret.) former Supreme Allied Commander at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), commander of U.S. Southern Command and American Edge Project National Security Advisory Board Co-Chair
  • Frances Townsend, former White House Counterterrorism and Homeland Security Advisor and American Edge Project National Security Advisory Board Co-Chair
  • Michael Allen, managing director, Beacon Global Strategies
  • Jeremy Bash, founder and managing director, Beacon Global Strategies
  • Kaitlyn Garman, senior associate, Beacon Global Strategies
  • Jamil Jaffer, founder and executive director, National Security Institute
  • Stephen Rodriguez, founder, One Defense