Trump issues Executive Order to strengthen cybersecurity for federal networks and critical infrastructure

President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order last week, which aims to strengthen the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) role in securing federal networks from potential cyberattacks.

“Our nation’s economic and national security rely on a safe, secure, and reliable cyber space,” Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly said.

The order enhances the department’s ability to ensure a baseline level of security across federal departments as well as the civilian executive branch. To do this, it directs agency heads to immediately use the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Cybersecurity Framework for risk management and to provide a risk management report to DHS and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) within 90 days time.

The order also directs both DHS and OMB to examine federal agencies’ cybersecurity risk management strategies to determine if each department’s cyber protections are adequate. It also mandates that DHS and OMB provide a cyber protection plan to the president within 60 days of receiving agency reports.

DHS will also be directed to lead the coordination with other departments and agencies to identify federal resources best suited to protect critical infrastructure where a cyber incident could have catastrophic effects, along with other provisions.

In total, the order contains 12 separate provisions related to cybersecurity.

“DHS has long been a leader in protecting our nation against cyber threats and this executive order reaffirms our central role in ongoing cybersecurity efforts,” Kelly said. “We have developed strong operational relationships with our government partners to protect federal civilian networks and have established trusted partnerships with the private sector to improve the cybersecurity of the nation’s critical infrastructure.”