The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) is proposing a plan for increased focus and collaboration between the Department of Defense and the U.S. defense industry on cybersecurity initiatives, addressing persistent cyber threats , officials said.
“David McKeown, the Department of Defense’s deputy chief of intelligence for cybersecurity, emphasized that “DIB private contractors face threats from malicious cyber activities from both competitors and non-state actors. By working with DIB, we can strengthen the security of critical information and prevent the unauthorized leakage of that information.”
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David McKeown, who also serves as DOD's senior information security officer, met with Stacy Bostjanick, head of DOD's defense industrial base in cyberspace, to unveil the strategy at the Pentagon.
The Cybersecurity Enhancement Strategy defines the future of the Department of Defense for the next three years, focusing on a secure, resilient, and technologically advanced U.S. defense industrial base to maintain the United States' battle advantage.
It analyzes four goals that are consistent with the above vision:
- Strengthening the Department of Defense's governance structure for the cybersecurity of the United States defense industrial base.
- Strengthening cybersecurity in the defense cyberspace of the US industrial base.
- Maintaining the resilience of the critical defense industrial base capabilities in a cyber-challenged environment.
- Improving cyber cooperation between the Department of Defense and the United States defense industry.
Central to achieving the goal of strengthening DOD's cybersecurity governance structure is the effort to enhance interagency cooperation and develop regulations that further responsibilities in the area of cybersecurity.
To improve DIB’s cyber posture, the strategy outlines steps for assessing compliance with the department’s cybersecurity requirements, as well as evaluating the effectiveness of regulations and requirements. It also explains steps for effectively handling cyber threat and information intelligence, collaborating with industry peers, identifying vulnerabilities, and remediating from harmful cyber activities.
The strategy directs the department to emphasize cyber resilience among critical defense production capabilities and to establish policies that reflect the focus on cybersecurity for critical service.
This focus aligns with the department's broader guidance, including the 2022 National Defense Strategy and the 2023 National Cybersecurity Strategy.
The recently published document also responds to the need to develop a comprehensive plan to ensure the reliability and integrity of production for the critical weapons systems outlined in the 2023 strategy.
The cybersecurity strategy underscores the department's continued efforts to ensure that the defense industrial base meets the demands of a complex national security landscape.
Earlier this year, the Pentagon released the National Defense Industrial Strategy, which sets out long-term priorities that will guide DOD's actions to create a modern, resilient defense industrial ecosystem designed to deter U.S. adversaries and meet the production demands created by evolving threats.
The NDIS focuses on four key areas critical to creating a modernized defense industrial ecosystem over the next three to five years. These areas are resilient supply chains, workforce, agile acquisition, and economic deterrence.
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The recently released cybersecurity strategy further builds on this collaboration between DOD and its industry partners.
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“There are opportunities to strengthen the cybersecurity of our DIB partners, which will improve our overall cybersecurity in the United States,” Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks said in a statement accompanying the strategy’s release. “As our adversaries continually seek intelligence on capabilities , the Department, in coordination with DIB, must remain resilient to these attacks and succeed through teamwork to defend the nation.”
Source: defense.gov
