President Obama just announced his plan to implement a Cybersecurity National Action Plan (CNAP) that will take near-term actions and put in place a long-term strategy to enhance cybersecurity awareness, protect privacy, maintain public safety, and empower Americans to take better control of their digital security. The Administration also released the 2016 Federal Cybersecurity Research and Development Strategic Plan, which was coordinated by the National Science and Technology Council. All of this follows in the momentum of the December passage of the Cybersecurity Act of 2015, which makes it easier for private companies to share cyber threat information with each other and the Government.
CNAP is the capstone of more than seven years of determined effort by this Administration, building upon lessons learned from cybersecurity trends, threats, and intrusions.
Highlights of the CNAP include actions to:
- Establish a Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity
- Modernize Government IT and transform how the Government manages cybersecurity through the proposal of a $3.1 billion Information Technology Modernization Fund
- Empower Americans to secure their online accounts by moving beyond just passwords and adding an extra layer of security
- Invest over $19 billion for cybersecurity as part of the President’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 Budget
While their work is just beginning, the Federal Cybersecurity Research and Development Strategic Plan will provide the Commission with a valuable reference point as they consider the challenges and opportunities in cybersecurity R&D.
The White House also encourages the community to join the conversation and contribute thoughts on how to approach these opportunities. Please submit your comments to CyberRDPlan@nitrd.gov.
