CISA's Initiatives Against PRC Cyber Threats
CISA Director Jen Easterly emphasizes the agency's proactive measures to protect America’s critical infrastructure against cyber threats, specifically from the People's Republic of China (PRC). With the increasing sophistication of China’s cyber capabilities, CISA is dedicated to detecting and mitigating these multifaceted risks to national security.
In light of recent cyber campaigns like “Salt Typhoon” and “Volt Typhoon,” CISA's approach involves close collaboration with federal partners and private sectors to identify vulnerabilities and enhance resilience against potential disruptive attacks. This initiative is critical as PRC cyber actors employ advanced methods to target essential services, making proactive defense and strategic partnerships imperative.
CISA’s strategy aims for a robust cyber defense that includes detecting and evicting PRC cyber actors, enhancing vigilance across public and private sectors, and encouraging technology manufacturers to design secure products. This comprehensive action plan must be prioritized to safeguard national interests and ensure the integrity of vital services.
Target Audience
- Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs)
- IT Security Teams
- Infrastructure Management Executives
- Compliance Officers
- Risk Management Professionals
Key Findings
- Detection and Mitigation Efforts: CISA has successfully identified and removed PRC cyber threats, showcased by their response to the Volt Typhoon campaign.
- Collaborative Strategies: Ongoing partnerships through the Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative (JCDC) focus on a coordinated defense against cyber aggressions targeting critical sectors.
Risk Analysis
- Probability of Cyber Incident: Estimated at 7/10 due to persistent PRC activities.
- Potential Impact on Critical Infrastructure: High, with possible economic losses exceeding $100 million in a significant breach.
Action Items
- Immediate Reporting Procedures: Implement a cybersecurity incident reporting protocol for all impacted organizations to enhance threat intelligence.
- Vulnerability Assessments: Encourage all critical infrastructure organizations to utilize CISA's free Vulnerability Scanning services within 3 months.
- Secure by Design Initiative: Mandate technology companies to adopt secure coding practices, effective within 6 months.
