Facing “pervasive” and “increasingly sophisticated” cyber threats, the Department of Homeland Security is adapting its approach to cybersecurity, Deputy Assistant Secretary Matthew Travis said at an Aug. 16 industry day held in Arlington, Virginia. Senior DHS officials also described key changes to the department’s role in governmentwide cybersecurity efforts and offered a forecast of procurement opportunities available through fiscal 2020.
The event, hosted by the National Protection and Programs Directorate’s (NPPD) Office of Cybersecurity and Communications (CS&C), was held to enhance transparency and build a more collaborative relationship between government and the private sector, DHS Assistant Secretary Jeanette Manfra told the roughly 500 in attendance.
DHS plans to adapt its cybersecurity strategy in three ways:
1. Greater centralization of DHS’s cybersecurity authority
Perhaps NPPD’s most important role is safeguarding federal agencies’ .gov domains from attack, and the 2018 National Cybersecurity Strategy gave it more power to do so. The agency will wield greater authority to mandate that other agencies adopt changes to their…
