Former DHS deputy secretary launches cybersecurity council

“The council’s main focus is to accelerate the widespread availability and adoption of effective measures in cybersecurity and practice in technology, with respect to workforce and policy to achieve and sustain security in cyberspace,” Lute said in remarks at a conference hosted by the SANS Institute, which provides information security training and certification. 

The council’s advisory board includes several high-profile members from
the cybersecurity and technology spheres, including Google’s Chief
Internet Evangelist Vint Cerf, Kaspersky Lab CEO Eugene Kaspersky and
Booz Allen Hamilton Vice Chairman Mike McConnell. Additionally, former
National Security Agency official Tony Sager will serve as the director
of programs for the council.

The council’s board will be chaired by Franklin Reeder, a veteran of the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Karen Evans, who previously
oversaw the IT budget for the federal government at OMB, will also serve
on the board.

The Council on Cybersecurity will be based in Washington, D.C., and serve as the successor organization to the National Board of Information Security Examiners, which is focused on strengthening the skills and performance of the cyber workforce.

As part of its efforts, the council will encourage the adoption of the critical security controls developed by SANS, as well as work on updating and improving them to better secure the public and private sectors from cyberattacks. Lute said the move is intended to “ease the adoption” of the controls by the government and other programs.

“We’re going to assume the responsibility of leading ongoing efforts to continue to develop and evolve the controls,” Lute said.

During her time at DHS, Lute was credited with her work on enhancing the federal government’s cybersecurity and her advocacy for open Internet principles. She reaffirmed her commitment to those efforts during her address.

“I believe in an open Internet — open, reliable, accessible. I think one of the greatest threats to the openness of the Internet is the lack of security,” Lute said.  “I think you will see actors, including governments, step into that space in order to provide security, so I think they travel together.”