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New Executive Order Targets Overall Cybersecurity

Danny Vital's picture
Danny Vital 720
Senior Cybersecurity Engineer XTec

Hi, I've been working in IT for the past two decades. Twelve of these years have been working specifically in the area of cybersecurity. During my work in tech I've played various different roles...

  • Member since 2021
  • 14 items added with 4,787 views
  • May 13, 2021
  • 636 views

After several months of significant attacks on critical infrastructure a new executive order was released yesterday with the focus on improving cybersecurity for the nation. The ‘Executive Order on Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity’ includes 9 main sections with specific guidance and timelines on the next steps towards more secure and resilient systems for the US. We’re excited to see this renewed focus on improving the security posture of the nation and applaud the effort.

Here are the main points that are included in this Executive Order.

  1. Policy – Protecting our nation from malicious cyber actors requires the Federal Government to partner with the private sector.
  2. Remove Barriers to Sharing Threat Information.
  3. Modernizing the Federal Government Cybersecurity.
  4. Enhancing Software Supply Chain Security.
  5. Establishing a Cyber Safety Review Board.
  6. Standardizing the Federal Government’s Playbook for Responding to Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities and Incidents.
  7. Improving Detection of Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities and Incidents on Federal Government Networks.  
  8. Improving the Federal Government’s Investigative and Remediation Capabilities.
  9. National Security Systems.

To read the Executive Order please use the link below:

Executive Order on Improving the Nation's Cybersecurity | The White House

 

Discussions
Matt Chester's picture
Matt Chester on May 13, 2021

Thanks for sharing, Danny. Truly great to see some tangible progress in this area. If you had to be critical, though, is there anything significant you were hoping to see that's missing? 

Audra Drazga's picture
Audra Drazga on May 14, 2021

Danny - thanks for sharing the highlights.  I missed the update on this.  I knew it was coming.  One thing that I think is missing is education.  We need to be bringing some of the smartest minds into the cybersecurity arena!  We need highly intelligent people who can think like hackers and help us be two steps ahead.   My son is attending the Colorado School of Mines, and I have been trying to talk him into this field, with no luck, I might add!  I think there are going to be a lot of opportunities for careers in the field of Cybersecurity! 

For those reading - I would love to invite you to listen to the PowerSession that we did with Xtec on How to Improve Security and Reduce NERC CIP Compliance Costs Using Smart Identification - follow this link to listen in to the on-demand recording and to access post-session Q&A. 

Danny Vital's picture
Thank Danny for the Post!
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