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Outgoing US National Cyber Director Warns of Unfinished Business in Cybersecurity
The outgoing director of the Office of the National Cyber Director, Harry Coker, has left his successor a long to-do list as he departs his role, warning that more work needs to be done to address the country's cybersecurity challenges. In an interview with the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, Coker praised the progress made in the past four years but noted that there is still much to be done to shore up security holes and address emerging threats.
The Office of the National Cyber Director (ONCD) has made significant progress in defending cyberspace and promoting coherence among federal and global efforts under Harry Coker's leadership. Coker warned his successor that more work needs to be done to address cybersecurity challenges, particularly implementing necessary defenses for critical systems. The country still lacks sufficient cybersecurity talent, with hundreds of thousands of unfilled infosec jobs, and Coker called on the next administration to prioritize cybersecurity investment. Coker expressed concern over lax security at major tech companies, including Microsoft's recent breach by a China-linked group. Shoring up security holes in critical systems is crucial, with efforts like strengthening the Border Gateway Protocol being cited as successes.
The United States' Office of the National Cyber Director (ONCD) has been a key player in shaping the country's cybersecurity strategy over the past four years. Under the leadership of outgoing director Harry Coker, the ONCD has made significant progress in defending cyberspace and promoting greater coherence among federal and global efforts. However, as Coker departed his role, he left his successor with a long to-do list, warning that more work needs to be done to address the country's cybersecurity challenges.
In an interview with the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, Coker praised the progress made by the ONCD in defending cyberspace and promoting greater coherence among federal and global efforts. He noted that his team has fought fires, taken a proactive posture to defend against cyber threats, brought key tech companies on board to step up their cybersecurity efforts, and tackled some of the hardest problems that have long crippled the country's ability to stay secure.
However, Coker also emphasized that there is still much work to be done. He noted that America has yet to implement all necessary defenses for critical systems and that every department and agency needs to stand up to the challenge of cybersecurity. In particular, he highlighted concerns about recent reports of cyber intrusions targeting US telecommunications systems, including a breach of Verizon's cellular networks at 35 US Air Force bases.
Coker also pointed to the need for greater investment in cybersecurity talent, noting that hundreds of thousands of infosec jobs remain unfilled. He called on the next administration to recognize the priority of cybersecurity and give the ONCD more say in cybersecurity budgeting across the federal government.
Furthermore, Coker expressed concern about recent reports of lax security at major tech companies, including Microsoft, which was criticized by US cyber officials for allowing a China-linked group to breach Exchange Online and access the emails of senior government officials. Despite this criticism, contract cash continues to flow to Redmond.
The outgoing director also highlighted the importance of shoring up security holes in critical systems, citing efforts to shore up security holes in the Border Gateway Protocol as a success. He also pointed to the Service for America campaign he led last year, which pitched cybersecurity work as national service, as another success despite being an item of unfinished business.
In conclusion, Harry Coker's departure from his role leaves his successor with a long to-do list, warning that more work needs to be done to address the country's cybersecurity challenges. As the US continues to navigate the complex and evolving landscape of cyber threats, it is clear that the challenge of national cybersecurity will remain a pressing concern for years to come.
Related Information:
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2025/01/08/oncd_director_harry_coker_exit_remarks/
Published: Wed Jan 8 21:05:01 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
