Correcting the cyber cacophony in our cybersecurity institutions

[Commentary] Cybersecurity presents one of the greatest and fastest growing threats facing our country — and finding ways to address these threats is one of the most pressing concerns of the new administration. The new administration will have the ability to rethink the design of our country’s various cybersecurity institutions. Today, responsibility and authority for cybersecurity-related issues are spread across various fiefdoms throughout the government. An effective national cybersecurity policy requires far greater coordination. The cybersecurity efforts currently spread throughout the government should be channeled through an OIRA-like entity to ensure effectiveness, coordination, and efficiency.

As President-Elect Trump continues to form his government, he, and those who will make up that government, should seize this opportunity to restructure our approach to cybersecurity. Our approach to date does not and cannot work — but the transition that is now under way affords the opportunity for much-needed new thinking and real change.

[Gus Hurwitz is an assistant professor at the University of Nebraska College of Law]