The Need for Internet Interstate Infrastructure

Sustainability when looking at a digital infrastructure plan needs to take cybersecurity and data privacy into account. In the modern world, data is a currency. From the dark web to marketing analytics, data has a financial value. The government needs to address these issues as part of establishing a nationwide internet infrastructure. Relying solely on internet service providers to build the infrastructure and secure it will fail. Regulations do not secure information or cloud services; they serve as deterrents. The federal government needs to take action to fill in security holes. For every innovative, environmentally sustainable, non-fossil fuel research grant it pays, it needs to match funds for innovative, cyber-sustainable, security research. Creating a cyber-sustainable digital infrastructure is as essential as creating an environmentally sustainable physical infrastructure. If the United States wants to remain competitive as a nation, the two need to be considered equally important.

[Karen Walsh is chief executive officer at Allegro Solutions]