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The US Congress will vote on the country’s annual defense policy, which plans an annual expenditure of $858 billion this year, much of which will go to cybersecurity (opens in new tab).
The policy includes more budget for so-called “hunt forward” missions, new leadership positions and new capabilities for the US president.
When it comes to the country’s “hunt forward” missions conducted by Cyber Command, the organization will receive $44 million in 2023 to make them even more effective. “Hunt forward” missions are described as “strictly defensive” cyber operations that Cyber Command conducts at the request of partner nations. As part of these operations, the “Hunt forward” team observes and detects malicious cyber activity on host country networks.
Presidential powers
The bill also introduces the position of Deputy Secretary for Cyber Policy at the Ministry of Defense. The person filling this role will be tasked, among other things, with annually informing legislators about Cyber Command’s cooperation with the National Security Agency.
In addition, the bill states that the US president may order operations in “foreign cyberspace” in certain situations – when “an active, systematic and ongoing campaign of attacks in cyberspace by a foreign power” is being conducted against the US government or critical authorities of the country. country. infrastructure.
Finally, the State Department is getting a new cybersecurity office, headed by inaugural ambassador, Nate Fick.
The United States has experienced some very serious cyberattacks in recent years, prompting the government to take a stronger stance against both domestic and foreign threat actors. Ransomware attacks against critical infrastructure and government agencies have been particularly damaging, including the attack on the Colonial Pipeline, which disrupted oil and gas distribution in a number of US states.
Through: Cyberscope (opens in new tab)