The 2016 presidential election took more than a few people by surprise. But shocked or not, the result is the same: Donald Trump will take office in January, representing a major shift in American politics.
If we take the president-elect at his word, much of the policy President Barack Obama and his administration enacted over the past eight years will be on the new administration’s chopping block. This likely will begin with the Affordable Care Act, but it certainly won’t end there.
Although the initiatives got off to a slow start, the Obama administration has made some positive headway in improving the nation’s cybersecurity since 2008. The centerpiece of its success has been the Cyber Security National Action Plan, which allocates $19 billion of the President’s fiscal 2017 budget to cybersecurity and establishes the Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity.
Donald Trump has been light on details about how he intends to change the current plan or improve America’s cybersecurity. He has indicated in debates and campaign speeches that cybersecurity should be a top priority, and he has generally approached the issue in military terms. Thus far, his proposals include Justice Department-created joint task forces for the enforcement of cybersecurity laws, a review of cyber defenses across federal agencies and, controversially, development of offensive capabilities for deterring cyber attacks.
Donald Trump has presented an incomplete cybersecurity defense plan and a not-so-cogent display of cybersecurity understanding, leaving many in the industry feeling uneasy about the country’s direction on this front. Rather than a change of course, we feel a continuation of the Cyber Security National Action Plan is in the nation’s best interest. Compromising the momentum of this plan for political purposes would be a mistake.
Respected industry professionals have also lent their expertise, offering recommendations to the president-elect on where to focus cybersecurity initiatives. These suggestions have included:
- Protection of critical infrastructure
- Improvements in compliance controls and auditing
- Holding firms accountable for poor cyber practices
- A privacy training mandate that includes the private sector
We hope that, as someone with admittedly limited experience in in cybersecurity, our next president will take the course of action that best protects our nation, regardless of which side of the aisle it comes from.
Lunarline might not be able to implement security policies for the federal government, but we can help your organization stay secure, regardless of the political environment. For more information about us and the services we offer, visit us online at Lunarline.com or send us a message.
