Federal Commission Releases Report on Recommendations for Improving Cybersecurity

The Cyberspace Solarium Commission (CSC) has released its final report, which includes over 80 recommendations to improve the U.S.’s cybersecurity posture and practices. The recommendations in the report support six cybersecurity pillars: 1) Reform the U.S. Government’s Structure and Organization for Cyberspace; 2) Strengthen Norms and Non-Military Tools; 3) Promote National Resilience; 4) Reshape the Cyber Ecosystem; 5) Operationalize Cybersecurity Collaboration with the Private Sector; and 6) Preserve and Employ the Military Instrument of National Power. Of relevance to the water sector, one of the recommendations is to expand information sharing between the federal government and the private sector and develop an economic continuity plan “to ensure continuous operation of critical functions.” The report includes an examination of the water sector, asserting “[m]align actors have already attempted to breach water infrastructure systems, and they could eventually exploit these vulnerabilities to disrupt or contaminate the American water supply.” It also states “municipal utilities often lack the resources or capacity to address these weaknesses.” Established through federal legislation, the CSC was assigned to “develop a consensus on a strategic approach to defending the United States in cyberspace against cyber attacks of significant consequences.” Read the report at Solarium.gov.