Unclassified and Secure

[InfoSec News <alerts () infosecnews org>]

https://www.infosecnews.org/unclassified-and-secure/

By William Knowles @c4i
Senior Editor
InfoSec News
April 12, 2020

A new report from the RAND Corporation, by Daniel Gonzales, Sarah Harting, Mary 
Kate Adgie, Julia Brackup, Lindsey Polley, and Karlyn D. Stanley

The defense industrial base (DIB) is under attack. Foreign actors are stealing 
large amounts of sensitive data, trade secrets, and intellectual property every 
day from DIB firms — contributing to the erosion of the DIB and potentially 
harming U.S. military capabilities and future U.S. military operations. The 
U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has taken steps to better secure systems 
against cyber threats, but most protections in place focus on classified 
networks, while unclassified networks have become an attractive entrance for 
adversaries seeking access to cutting-edge technologies and research and 
development efforts. To address this problem, DoD has increased regulations and 
introduced new security controls, but the current approach may be insufficient.

This report offers DoD a way ahead to better secure unclassified networks 
housing defense information — through the establishment and implementation of a 
cybersecurity program designed to strengthen the protections of these networks. 
The program offers a means for DoD to better monitor the real-time health of 
the DIB and ensure that protections are in place to prevent the disclosure of 
sensitive corporate information from DIB firms or sensitive supply chain 
information across the DIB. The program also includes a means to offer 
qualified small DIB firms access to cybersecurity tools for use on unclassified 
networks, for free or at a discounted rate, to ensure that affordable 
protections are accessible to all DIB firms. Advanced persistent threats and 
sophisticated cyber attacks will not stop, but this program can help build 
stronger defenses, develop more-coordinated responses, and help maintain the 
technological superiority of U.S. military forces.

[...]

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