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Read. Follow. Verify.Senate Hearing on U.S. Cybersecurity Policy and Threats
Record date · January 1, 2016
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What This Bill Does
The Senate Committee on Armed Services held a hearing on September 29, 2015, to evaluate the effectiveness of U.S. cybersecurity policy against foreign adversaries. Witnesses from the Department of Defense and the intelligence community discussed the rise in cyberattacks against government and private sector networks.
This hearing addresses the government's strategy for responding to cyberattacks from foreign nations, which impacts national security, the protection of sensitive government data, and the security of critical infrastructure.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Department of Defense
The agency is responsible for implementing the cyberstrategy and defending military networks.
U.S. Private Sector
Companies are subject to economic espionage and intellectual property theft by foreign actors.
Key Facts
- The hearing took place on September 29, 2015, in the Dirksen Senate Office Building.
- The committee received testimony regarding cyberattacks attributed to Iran, North Korea, China, and Russia.
- Recent targets of cyberattacks mentioned include the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Pentagon, and the Office of Personnel Management.
- The Chairman noted that the Department of Defense's required cyberstrategy, mandated by the Fiscal Year 2014 National Defense Authorization Act, is over a year late.
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- The hearing addressed the lack of a formal U.S. deterrence strategy against state-sponsored cyber espionage and intellectual property theft.
- Witnesses included the Director of National Intelligence, the Deputy Secretary of Defense, and the Commander of U.S. Cyber Command.
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News Coverage
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Discoveries
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Delayed Cyber Strategy
The committee explicitly noted that the Department of Defense was over a year late in delivering a cyberstrategy required by the 2014 NDAA.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.govinfo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance85How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy75Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment40Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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