Executive Order Begins Process Of Strengthening Nation's Cybersecurity And Critical Infrastructure

Executive Order Begins Process Of Strengthening Nation's Cybersecurity And Critical Infrastructure

During his State of the Union address on February 12, 2013, President Barack Obama announced his signing of a long-anticipated Executive Order on cybersecurity.¹ After months of discussions with technology companies the Executive Order proposes a cybersecurity framework to "enhance the security and resilience of the Nation's critical infrastructure and to maintain a cyber environment that encourages efficiency, innovation, and economic prosperity while promoting safety, security, business confidentiality, privacy, and civil liberties." While this framework is generally viewed as an encouraging step by industry and information security groups, some measures recommended by information security experts, such as mandates or minimum requirements, were not included, since any new law would require legislative action, and the standards called for in the Executive Order will