National Cybersecurity Strategy: Key Improvements are Needed to Strengthen the Nation’s Posture

Citation
Government Accountability Office, National Cybersecurity Strategy: Key Improvements are Needed to Strengthen the Nation’s Posture (GAO-09-432T) (Mar. 10, 2009).

Overview
Pervasive and sustained computer-based (cyber) attacks against federal and private-sector infrastructures pose a potentially devastating impact to systems and operations and the critical infrastructures that they support. To address these threats, President Bush issued a 2003 national strategy and related policy directives aimed at improving cybersecurity nationwide. Congress and the Executive Branch, including the new administration, have subsequently taken actions to examine the adequacy of the strategy and identify areas for improvement. Nevertheless, GAO has identified this area as high risk and has reported on needed improvements in implementing the national cybersecurity strategy. This report summarized (1) key reports and recommendations on the national cybersecurity strategy and (2) the views of experts on how to strengthen the strategy.