U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday signed an executive order to boost cyber security of critical infrastructure by strengthening cooperation between the government and the private sector.
The executive order increased information sharing, as well as joint development and implementation of cyber security practices between the government and industry partners, according to information released by the White House.
The order expands the voluntary Enhanced Cybersecurity Services program, enabling near real time sharing of cyber threat information to assist "critical infrastructure companies" in their cyber protection efforts, and providing both classified and unclassified threat and attack information to companies that are so vital that the incapacity or destruction of their systems and assets would have a debilitating impact on the country.
Through the order, Obama directed the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to lead the development of a framework of cyber security practices to reduce cyber risks to critical infrastructure.
NIST will work collaboratively with industry to develop the framework, relying on existing international standards, practices and procedures that have proven to be effective.
The order also includes calls for a review of existing cyber security regulations. Regulatory agencies will use the Cybersecurity Framework to assess their cyber security regulations, and determine if existing requirements are sufficient, and whether any existing regulations can be eliminated as no longer effective.
To complement the executive order, Obama also issued a Presidential Policy Directive, directing the Department of Homeland Security to clarify the functional relationships within the government related to critical infrastructure security, and find ways to improve public-private partnership on the issue, as well as how that partnership can be effectively carried out.
The executive order came out after the U.S. Congress failed last year to move forward on cyber security legislation.
Senior officials, especially Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, have repeatedly warned the dangers of cyber attacks, and have called for tools to be given to the national security community to fight such menace.
