A new report by the Center for Cybersecurity Policy and Law has called for strengthening the Office of the National Cyber Director (ONCD) to improve the U.S. government’s cybersecurity strategy. Established in 2021 after a recommendation from the bipartisan Cyberspace Solarium Commission, the ONCD has played a significant role in developing and implementing a national cybersecurity strategy. However, the report suggests that while the office has matured into an important part of U.S. cybersecurity efforts, there are several areas that need attention to ensure its effectiveness in the future.
One of the key recommendations in the report is to clarify the ONCD’s mission statement. The report stresses the importance of defining the office’s policymaking responsibilities to differentiate it from other agencies involved in cybersecurity, such as the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). By clearly delineating its role, the ONCD can better focus on the coordination of federal cybersecurity efforts and avoid overlap with other entities.
Another recommendation involves increasing the office’s public profile. The report suggests that the ONCD director should explicitly serve as the U.S. government’s top public-facing cyber official, similar to the U.S. Trade Representative. This would ensure that the general public knows where to turn for cybersecurity-related issues and would give the office more visibility on the national stage. The report also recommends improving organizational coordination by placing a senior ONCD official within the White House National Security Council to help bridge gaps between the two entities.
Finally, the report advocates for a more robust staffing structure within the ONCD. It calls for more subject-matter experts to be detailed to the office, rather than political appointees, in order to strengthen its ability to tackle complex cybersecurity challenges. The report acknowledges that increasing the size of the ONCD may be unpopular with the incoming administration but stresses the need for such growth to meet the demands of the evolving cybersecurity landscape. With these recommendations, the report aims to ensure that the ONCD can continue to lead the nation in securing its digital infrastructure.
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