Obama cybersecurity chief warns further regulations may be required

President Obama’s executive order on national cybersecurity could result in new regulations for companies that operate key infrastructure, according to Michael Daniel, the White House’s cybersecurity coordinator.

Daniel said new regulations could be needed to create a “backstop” to address security gaps in the computer systems and networks of the nation’s water systems, electric grid and other critical infrastructure. Daniel noted that a key part of the order directs primary regulators — including the Treasury and Energy departments — to review their current regulations and requirements and align them with the standards included in the cybersecurity framework developed by the Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology. That could result in the agencies taking new executive actions or crafting updated regulations to bring their rules up to speed with the framework.