The upcoming national cyber strategy from the White House is set to be introduced early in the new year, signaling a renewed focus on cybersecurity amidst evolving challenges. Sean Cairncross, the National Cyber Director, revealed at the Aspen Institute’s Cyber Summit in November that the strategy will consist of a clear statement of intent along with actionable deliverables.
Central to this initiative is the need to address a significant talent shortage in cybersecurity, with over 500,000 job openings in the field, according to Cairncross. This strategy aims to implement an "active defense" approach, which prioritizes proactive measures to shorten the duration between a cyber intrusion and its containment.
Experts are particularly interested in the role of artificial intelligence (AI) within these frameworks, categorizing related issues into three areas: protecting AI systems, defending against AI-driven cyber threats, and using AI for enhanced cyber defense. Drew Bagley, vice president at Crowdstrike, emphasized the importance of visibility in AI systems to prevent emerging vulnerabilities. He noted that the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is expected to lead federal efforts in establishing AI security standards.