Martin O'Malley on the Need for Cybersecurity

[Koinos]

The U.S. Government – and the Next President – Needs to Take Cybersecurity Seriously

The latest Chinese hack proves the danger of cyberwarfare. But more can be done to bolster American security, while strengthening privacy protections.

By Martin O'Malley

Read the full article by O'Malley here:

https://foreignpolicy.com/2015/06/09/the-u-s-government-and-the-next-president-needs-to-take-cybersecurity-seriously/

[elleng]

1. Excellent. Thanks.

A new agenda is urgently needed to improve our nation’s cybersecurity.

First, unlike the military’s command-and-control approach to past defense challenges, this new threat will require a collaborative and networked approach across public and private sectors. The data that cyberattacks target do not reside completely in one sector or another. We need to ensure that privacy issues are directly and adequately addressed in order to build the trust necessary for businesses and other organizations to work with the government on the safeguards we need to protect both.

Second, greater security requires greater investment. Investing more resources in cybersecurity is an economic and national security priority. Our servers, information networks, and personal devices now exist on digital battlefields, with real-world consequences. Without sustained effort and bold ideas, our entire society will remain vulnerable to more destructive attacks, threatening our national security and robbing us of our privacy and precious intellectual property — the lifeblood of future American jobs.

Third, we need to understand that every segment of government has a role to play. As co-chair of the Council of Governors, which Congress created to better coordinate defense and homeland security issues, I worked with the secretary of defense and the secretary of homeland security to expand cybersecurity capabilities at the state level. We pushed for every state’s National Guard to develop cybersecurity units, which could be established quickly and affordably, and tap the skill sets of civilians. The federal government should support these efforts with financial and technical assistance to help states fulfill their commitments to strengthen cybersecurity.

In Maryland, we did just that, making investments in cybersecurity that continue to pay dividends. . .

Maryland’s record of achievement on cybersecurity issues provides a path forward for the nation. Our digital information and networks are critical to our economic might and national security. We should treat them like the precious resources that they are.

[FSogol]

2. Change in tech with respect to privacy policy is something that has been ignored.

O'Malley is the type of person that will not ignore or allow congress to ignore making changes.

[elleng]

3. Right, he won't ignore.

[Raine1967]

5. LOL. you said in just a few words

what I was trying to communicate in my thread below!

A lot of this has been ignored or put to the bottom of the to-do list.

This is a bigger deal than people want to admit and embrace as a problem.

[FSogol]

6. Yes. Many will complain that is too late or not enough, but it is start.

In this age of gridlock and obstruction, any move forward should be celebrated.

[Raine1967]

4. This is a policy change that I REALLY like.

You all might know that I am a big supporter of this administration, but I have say — O'Malley is spot on here.

First, unlike the military’s command-and-control approach to past defense challenges, this new threat will require a collaborative and networked approach across public and private sectors. The data that cyberattacks target do not reside completely in one sector or another. We need to ensure that privacy issues are directly and adequately addressed in order to build the trust necessary for businesses and other organizations to work with the government on the safeguards we need to protect both.

Second, greater security requires greater investment. Investing more resources in cybersecurity is an economic and national security priority. Our servers, information networks, and personal devices now exist on digital battlefields, with real-world consequences. Without sustained effort and bold ideas, our entire society will remain vulnerable to more destructive attacks, threatening our national security and robbing us of our privacy and precious intellectual property — the lifeblood of future American jobs.

Third, we need to understand that every segment of government has a role to play. As co-chair of the Council of Governors, which Congress created to better coordinate defense and homeland security issues, I worked with the secretary of defense and the secretary of homeland security to expand cybersecurity capabilities at the state level. We pushed for every state’s National Guard to develop cybersecurity units, which could be established quickly and affordably, and tap the skill sets of civilians. The federal government should support these efforts with financial and technical assistance to help states fulfill their commitments to strengthen cybersecurity.

Think about all of that when you read a headline like this: OPM Hack Exposes Records Of 4 Million Federal Employees

I will accept that the GOP has consistently blocked funding to prevent this type of hack, that I will accept. What I really appreciate is that O'malley is out there stalking about this like no other candidate.

So many of us talk about issues as tho they are either foreign or domestic. Social justice or economic justice…

I think that cyber security is another from that is really quite important. It encompasses all of the things I listed above.

National security is important. It is also important when it drains the accounts of the most vulnerable among us.

We need to start taking technology into serious consideration beyond campaigns. We need to protect our citizens from a real thing: cyberwafare.

It exists, and I am glad to see Martin addressing this issue.