Biden Signs the New Executive Order to Strengthen US Cybersecurity Defenses

The US President Joe Biden has signed an executive order which primarily aims at strengthening U.S. cybersecurity defences. This move comes as a result of a series of sweeping cyberattacks on private companies and federal government networks that occured in the US over the past year. The action comes as Colonial Pipeline continues to cripple ransomware attack, which has led to fuel shortages along the East Coast and prompted an all-of-government response.

The Colonial Pipeline hack is one of the latest examples of criminal groups or state actors exploiting U.S. cyber vulnerabilities. Also, software from the IT company SolarWinds was breached, allowing hackers to gain access to communications and data in several government agencies last year. The president’s executive order calls for the federal government and other private sector to partner to confront and fight against the malicious attacks that threaten U.S. security.

The new executive order signed by President Biden aims to improves security of software sold to the government, including by making developers share certain security data publicly. The Us government will also establish a “Cybersecurity Safety Review Board” that comprises both public- and private-sector officials, which can convene after cyberattacks to analyze the situation and make recommendations.