US Cyber Solarium Commission call for improved private sector partnership is key to avoiding another SolarWinds‑like event or worse
Summary
The Cyber Solarium Commission issued a white paper that is intended to provide a guide for the incoming Biden-Harris administration on key cybersecurity challenges and opportunities. The paper builds on the commission report issued last year and identifies possible early policy achievements and possible priorities for action over the coming months and years.
Report
Analysis
SolarWinds is providing a renewed impetus for closer partnership with the private sector. “As the SolarWinds incident has shown, federal government departments and agencies must bolster their capabilities both to prevent cyber incidents and to identify, detect, and effectively respond to them when they do occur”.
From a US national security perspective, this move should be encouraging. SolarWinds did expose some critical gaps that can be addressed in part through improved identification, detection, analysis and response capabilities.
Mandatory disclosure of cyber risks by companies will also incentivize C‑Suites and boards to appropriately prioritize security and address internal weaknesses before they turn into massive breaches.