Sanchez on Cybersecurity (Tech America)

By Rep. Loretta Sanchez

We’ve just emerged from a bruising and all-consuming battle in Washington over the debt ceiling, and it is now time to center our national discussion on the priorities of our future. While rebuilding our economy is imperative, we must also prioritize our nation’s long-term national security, especially as we move deeper into the 21st century.

 

It is almost daily that we hear of an attack or attempted attack by hackers on U.S. businesses and government infrastructure. Many of these attacks are sophisticated and their tactics are constantly changing. To defend against these attacks, we must be equally sophisticated and nimble. Despite our best efforts and significant advances in security, we are not as nimble as we could be.

 

And for the sake of our national defense and economic well-being we can’t continue to rely on simple luck to protect against malicious and devious hackers who aim to get our national secrets, crash our business infrastructure and steal valuable U.S. trade secrets.

 

Cybersecurity is an integral part of our national and economic security. The research and development of cybersecurity technology must be approached as a multi-faceted investment in the future - one that requires a true partnership between government and private industry that not only protects the progress we’ve made, but creates the technology to keep up with the criminals committing these acts,  all the while creating jobs in California’s dynamic technology sector.

 

In other words, we must look at the creation of cybersecurity technology in the same light that we look at building aircraft carriers and fighter jets. The government has a need and the private sector has the tools. One cannot work without the other.

 

While it’s critical that the private sector invest in developing cybersecurity technology, the first steps must be made by the federal government and Congress. The basic research and development being done by the federal government must be consistent, predictable and reliable so private industry can plan to be responsive in their investment and development.

 

The federal government must share cybersecurity innovations developed through research and development with private industry – in real time. The tools and threats in the cybersecurity world are constantly evolving and modernizing, creating new threats every day. Private industry has the resources and flexibility to adapt to those changes much faster than the government, but they need the valuable basic research that is being produced to be sure our defenses are the best they can be.

 

Private sector and government must also partner in developing a ready and equipped workforce so our cyber defenses will be strong into the future. Private sector needs to invest in developing their workforce for the cybersecurity challenges of the future to complement a national, state and local government focus on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) at the earliest possible stages.

 

Congress must also be an active participant in these efforts by making sure that cybersecurity R&D is a main component of any cybersecurity legislation.  Cybersecurity R&D is a non-partisan issue that has widespread support among industry and government alike.  If we are to remain ahead of our cyber enemies, we must innovate at a rate faster than they can.  The public-private partnership for cybersecurity is strong, and this is an example of where collaboration will lead to success.  Cyber-attacks are increasing every day and we will never be fully able to eliminate these attacks.  

 

However, the earlier we can detect these attacks, the more damage that will be mitigated, allowing the U.S. to remain strong and secure. 

 

As a nation, we are facing tough economic decisions but we must not forget that our nation cannot afford to let down our guard on cybersecurity.  A new path, one that creates a genuine and productive partnership between the private sector and government, is what it’s going to take to ensure we are ready to deal with the evolving world of cyber-attacks.