Improving the Security of the Nation’s Critical Infrastructure

Because of the importance of our cyber critical infrastructure, and the seriousness of the threats, the President issued an Executive Order directing federal departments and agencies to use their existing authorities to provide better cybersecurity for the Nation. These efforts will by necessity involve increased collaboration with the private sector and a whole-of-government approach.

In developing the order, the Administration sought input from stakeholders of all viewpoints in industry, the public sector, the legislative branch, and the advocacy community. Their input has been vital in crafting an order that incorporates the best ideas and lessons learned from industry experience, legislative efforts, and successful federal efforts. Over the course of the past six months, we hosted over 30 organizations, representing all 18 critical infrastructure sectors, and heard from over 200 companies directly. We also met with trade associations representing an additional 6,000 companies, over $7 trillion in annual economic activity, and over 15 million employees to discuss their concerns and ideas for solutions. As a result of our outreach, numerous stakeholders responded positively to the Executive Order.

[Michael Daniel is Special Assistant to the President and Cybersecurity Coordinator]