News

The White House has instructed federal agencies to bolster their cybersecurity measures in response to their delayed implementation of President Joe Biden’s executive order from 2021. A memo obtained by CNN states that several departments and agencies have not fully complied with the crucial security practices outlined in the executive order. This failure to comply has left the US Government vulnerable to cyber intrusions and undermines the importance of adequate cybersecurity practices.

National security adviser Jake Sullivan has urged senior officials across departments to achieve full compliance with the executive order’s security requirements by the end of this year. The memo specifically targets agencies outside of the Pentagon and a comment is being requested from the National Security Council.

This memo from Sullivan reflects the frustration of US officials who believe that the government has not done enough to protect itself from state-backed and cybercriminal attacks. The Biden administration has already faced damaging hacks during its initial months in office, including the Russian attack on federal networks through SolarWinds software and a ransomware attack on the nation’s largest fuel pipeline operator.

In response, the administration issued an executive order in May 2021 that requires agencies to implement tighter security practices to deter hackers. The order also mandates that federal contractors enhance their cyber defenses in order to continue working with the government. However, progress in implementing these measures has been deemed too slow by the White House. To address this, Sullivan’s memo calls for agencies to provide a detailed plan for implementing the executive order by the end of September.

The US government continues to face an ongoing barrage of cyberattacks. An alleged Chinese hacking campaign discovered in June compromised the email accounts of the US ambassador to China and the secretary of commerce.

The post White House Orders Federal Agencies to Strengthen Cybersecurity appeared first on satProviders.