President Donald Trump on Thursday signed his long-awaited cybersecurity executive order, titled "Strengthening the Cybersecurity of Federal Networks and Critical Infrastructure."
Here are the executive order's core cybersecurity priorities.
1. Cybersecurity of federal networks. President Trump pledged to hold heads of executive departments and agencies accountable for cybersecurity risk within their enterprise. The executive order instructs agency heads to modernize their IT and implement risk management measures using the National Institute of Standards and Technology's "Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity."
"The executive branch has for too long accepted antiquated and difficult–to-defend IT," the executive order reads.
2. Cybersecurity of critical infrastructure. The executive order mandates agency heads — including the secretary of Homeland Security, the attorney general and the director of the FBI — provide President Trump with regular reports on better supporting the cybersecurity risk management efforts of critical infrastructure.
In particular, President Trump highlighted the nation's need for resilience against botnets — among other automated distributed threats — and prolonged power outages associated with cyberattacks.
3. Cybersecurity for the nation. The executive order mandates the Secretary of State, secretary of the Department of Defense and other relevant agency heads submit a report on strategic options to better protect the American people from cyberthreats.
In addition to deterring cyberattackers, President Trump highlighted how an engaged workforce will ensure the U.S. maintains a cybersecurity advantage. The executive order mandates federal stakeholders consider how to educate and train the American cybersecurity workforce through higher education and apprenticeship programs.
Click here to view the executive order.