U.S. government announces budget increase for cyber security measures

The White House has allocated more than $19 billion in the 2017 budget for cyber security to enable agencies to raise their level of cyber security, help private sector organizations and individuals better protect themselves, disrupt and deter adversary activity, and respond more effectively to incidents.

By The White House February 27, 2016

The White House has allocated more than $19 billion in the proposed 2017 budget for cyber security, an increase of more than 35% over the 2016 enacted level. These resources are designed to enable agencies to raise their level of cyber security, help private sector organizations and individuals better protect themselves, disrupt and deter adversary activity, and respond more effectively to incidents. The Obama Administration also is implementing a Cybersecurity National Action Plan (CNAP) to help with long-term strategies to enhance cyber and digital security awareness and protections and maintain public safety.

CNAP directs the federal government to take new action now and fosters the conditions required for long-term improvements in approach to cyber security across the federal government, the private sector, and among individuals. These actions include establishing a commission of strategic, business, and technical thinkers to provide recommendations on actions that can strength cyber security in the public and private sector over the next decade. The commission also intends to encourage and foster development of new technical solutions as well as increase collaboration at the federal, state, and local levels. CNAP also will modernize government information technology (IT) as well as how the government manages cyber security.

Other initiatives in the budget include increasing public awareness about the importance of cyber security as well as strengthening critical infrastructure. The Department of Homeland Security is collaborating with industry leaders to develop a cybersecurity assurance program designed to test and certify networked devices within the Internet of Things (IoT). This is intended to ensure that currently developed products meet security standards.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) also is soliciting feedback for development of its cyber security framework for improving critical infrastructure.

– Edited from a White House press release by CFE Media. See more Control Engineering cyber security stories.

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Learn more about the government’s proposed cyber security initiatives.