It has become increasingly clear that improving cybersecurity will be a main focus, and important goal, of the Biden-Harris administration.
In May 2021, President Joseph Biden issued an executive order modernizing federal government defenses and improving the security of the government’s technology. In the spring, the president also announced a 100-day initiative to improve the security of the nation’s critical infrastructure. On July 28, the president issued a National Security Memorandum that established cybersecurity goals outlining the administration’s expectations for owners and operators of critical infrastructure across the electric sector.
The president has now turned his focus to the private sector. On August 25, 2021, he met with private sector and education leaders to discuss the effort needed to address cybersecurity threats. As a result of the meeting, the president obtained commitments from a number of the country’s leading technology companies to invest heavily in cybersecurity efforts.
Additionally, as a result of the meeting, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has agreed to collaborate with technology industry partners to develop a new framework to improve the security and integrity of the technology supply chain. The purpose of the framework is to serve as a guideline for public and private entities on how to build secure technology and assess the security of technology.