The White House released a new cybersecurity policy strategy on Thursday placing the responsibility of securing technology against cyber attacks on tech firms. With sophisticated attacks from Russia, China, and North Korea on the rise, the Biden administration is classifying this strategy as a national security priority.
Why it matters: The federal government has long relied on “good-faith” policies that keep tech firms accountable for fixing vulnerabilities in their products. Every administration since George W. Bush has released a policy strategy document, but Biden’s places greater emphasis on private companies which hold most of the country’s digital infrastructure.
- The administration’s policy strategy will require firms to adhere to minimum cybersecurity measures for critical infrastructure and face liability if their code is not secure.
- The federal government will also take on more responsibility to defend against hacking groups that have targeted healthcare systems and government operations across the country. The FBI and Defense Department are stepping up to play a greater offensive and defensive role.
- The strategy mimics Ukraine’s efforts to allow ministries to move data and databases to the cloud following Russia’s invasion early last year.
