The U.S. government will collaborate with Israeli officials to develop strategies to combat cyberthreats, Thomas Bossert, assistant to President Donald Trump for homeland security and counterterrorism, said Monday, according to Reuters.
Mr. Bossert made the announcement at "Cyber Week 2017" during an event at Israel-based Tele Aviv University. "I announce today the commencement of an Israeli U.S. bilateral cyber working group," he said to attendees, as reported by the Times of Israel.
Here are four things to know about the working group, which Mr. Bossert said will meet this week.
1. The group will discuss ways to proactively detect and block security threats to networks and critical infrastructure.
2. Mr. Bossert said the group will determine international norms related to "responsible state behavior," according to the Times of Israel, and hinted the group may establish punishable guidelines for cyberactors.
3. Rob Joyce, U.S. White House cybersecurity coordinator, and Eviatar Matania, director general of Israel's national cyber directorate, will lead the group. The group will also include U.S. representatives from the State Department, the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI.
4. In his conference remarks, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel faces numerous of cyberattacks on the national level each month. "Today when you talk about cyber or advanced technologies, it is an advantage … to say I am an Israeli company," he said, according to the Times of Israel.
5. Mr. Bossert said the cybersecurity working group will strengthen the U.S.' "bilateral ties" with Israel. He added "perfect security may not be achievable but we have within our reach a safer and more secure internet," according to Reuters.
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