The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has unveiled its first international strategic plan, spanning 2025-2026, to fortify global cooperation on cybersecurity initiatives.
This comprehensive plan targets the resilience of international systems that intersect with U.S. critical infrastructure, recognizing the global dependencies of modern cyber and physical infrastructure. With cyber threats growing more complex and often transnational, the plan highlights the necessity for collaborative defense measures, information sharing, and alignment on global standards to protect essential infrastructure from malicious actors.
CISA Director Jen Easterly emphasized that the strategic plan is intended to foster partnerships that will strengthen both the security and resilience of the critical infrastructure relied upon by Americans.
Through clearly defined goals and initiatives, CISA will seek to reinforce cybersecurity defenses on multiple fronts, from foreign critical infrastructure protection to coordinated cybersecurity practices and internal process unification.
Why It Matters: CISA’s 2025-2026 International Strategic Plan aims to establish frameworks and partnerships that reinforce the resilience of critical foreign infrastructure, which is increasingly vital for U.S. security. As technology evolves, adversaries are exploiting vulnerabilities in infrastructure worldwide; this plan underscores the role of international partnerships in not only mitigating risk but also in setting global standards to address emerging challenges effectively. With CISA’s enhanced focus on collaboration, the U.S. seeks to be at the forefront of global cybersecurity, benefiting both national and allied defenses.
- Strengthening Foreign Infrastructure: CISA’s plan prioritizes identifying foreign infrastructure critical to U.S. interests and working with international partners to enhance its resilience. The agency will conduct vulnerability assessments, share insights, and create strategies to address systemic risks to support infrastructure like telecommunications and essential supply chains.
- Building Integrated Cyber Defense: The strategy emphasizes bolstering collective cyber defenses through multilateral engagements, particularly through partnerships with global Computer Security Incident Response Teams. This collaborative effort will involve sharing operational information, threat alerts, and best practices for cybersecurity, providing an effective framework for rapid and informed responses to threats.
- Unifying International Activities: CISA will establish governance structures and improve information-sharing practices to streamline international activities across the agency. The goal is to develop a cohesive approach to engaging with foreign entities, ensuring that all international efforts align with broader national security objectives.
- Investing in Workforce and Capacity: To effectively manage international engagements, CISA plans to enhance its workforce with specific training for overseas deployments and international policy-making skills. This development ensures that CISA personnel are well-prepared to handle the unique challenges of fostering global cybersecurity resilience.
Go Deeper -> CISA Launches First International Cybersecurity Plan – Infosecurity Magazine