New Bill Would Increase U.S. Cybersecurity

A bill now in Congress would see mandatory computer security standards for government and private companies that control infrastructure.

A new bill has been presented to Congress aimed at setting computer security standards not only for government departments, but also for those private companies that control infrastructure, such as power or telephone communication.

Sponsored by Senators John D. Rockefeller IV and Olympia J. Snowe, the bill proposes the creation of a National Cybersecurity Advisor (NCA) who would have direct access to the president and the power to shut down any part of the infrastructure in the event of an attack.

Additionally, the NCA would be able to offer advice to businesses on a local level by setting up regional cybersecurity centers, and have the power to enforce common security standards throughout the national infrastructure.

Cybersecurity professionals would need to be licensed under the new bill, which also want to use experts from industry, academia and security organizations on a Cybersecurity Advisory Council to advise the President.

Senator Snowe said:

"America’s vulnerability to massive cyber crime, global cyber espionage, and cyber attacks has emerged as one of the most urgent national security problems facing our country today."

"Our failure to implement effective policies and procedures to protect critical infrastructure, prevent invasive intrusion and conduct an aggressive threat assessment has proven extremely consequential, putting the American information system at grave risk. It is abundantly clear we must unite on all fronts to confront this monumental challenge, if we fail to take swift action, we, regrettably, risk a cyber-Katrina."