Cyber plans in the making

Top Biden administration officials on Thursday outlined steps taken to confront the increase in cyber threats against the nation, including through strengthening key critical infrastructure groups.

National Cyber Director Chris Inglis detailed these steps in both a strategic intent document issued by the White House and an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal, prioritizing issues including enhancing federal cybersecurity efforts, improving public-private coordination and shoring up resources and resilience to face cyber threats.

“It’s really a statement of what we intend to be held accountable for, contributions we intend to make that complement what the National Security Council does, what the Office of Management and Budget does, the sector risk management agencies, and so on and so forth,” Inglis said Thursday while speaking about the intent document at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

New job: As part of efforts to strengthen federal cybersecurity, Inglis announced Thursday that Federal Chief Information Security Officer (CSIO) Chris DeRusha would also take on the role of deputy national cyber director for federal cybersecurity.

Inglis spoke alongside Anne Neuberger, the deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technology, who teased the administration’s upcoming national cyber strategy, which Neuberger said will include “three lines of effort.”

Water security: She stressed Thursday the need to secure the water sector against attacks, and said the administration was pushing for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to have more authorities in this space.