Is the U.S. Prepared to Defend Against Cyber Attacks?

Earlier this week, Congressman Fred Upton, chairman of the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee, sent a bipartisan letter to the General Accountability Office to “to examine the government’s role in addressing cybersecurity challenges.” Rep. Upton asked that the GAO to “identify actions taken by the appropriate federal agencies to address cybersecurity challenges; security features, potential vulnerabilities, or existing problems on consumer products and services; and main non-U.S. suppliers’ role in providing communications networks in the U.S.”  This letter reflects the ongoing concern that members of congress have with the current spectrum of cyber vulnerabilities being faced by the federal government to threats and attacks.

During the same week the House Cybersecurity Task Force chaired by Congressman Mac Thornberry released its recommendations for cybersecurity reform.  The recommendations revealed no surprises.  All the usual areas in need of reform were highlighted, such as FISMA, data breach, CFAA, EPCA, collaboration between the private and public sector on critical infrastructure protection.

However, unlike the GAO letter mentioned above, the taskforce was a partisan committee. In fact, an article in Federal Computer Week noted that cybersecurity reform may emerge as a more partisan issue than in years past.  Not sure what this mean for reform at this point, but we will keep you posted as these issues begin to unfold.  The good news is that the taskforce recommends that these reform efforts should be managed within the respective committees of jurisdiction.