ISA March 2020 Highlights

The Cyberspace Solarium Commission created by the 2019 Defense Authorization Act embraced the ISA’s Cybersecurity Social Contract by name specifically calling for Congress and the private sector to create a new “Social Contract” as the fundamental approach to partnership needed to create a sustainable model of “collective cyber defense.”

Additionally, the Cyberspace Solarium Commission endorsed all 12-specific legislative proposals identified in the ISA’s Social Contract volume, and the Policy Leadership Team put together by DHS Asst. Secretary for Cyber Security Jeanette Manfra and Chaired by ISA. The endorsed legislative proposals include the need to address the cybersecurity problem with greater urgency; dramatically increasing funding for cybersecurity programs and enabling DHS to become the head agency on cyber; reorganizing the government for the digital age including streamlining cyber regulations; enhancing cyber law enforcement; and adopting incentives to produce positive cybersecurity outcomes.

Congress adopted, and the President signed into law as part of the COVID-19 economic stimulus package, ISA’s proposals on cybersecurity for smaller businesses, offering funding to aid small businesses to understand their cyber risks from telecommuting and online business as part of a comprehensive deal on coronavirus pandemic aid.
The World Economic Forum (WEF) and ISA initiated work on a program to collaborate, and eventually test for effectiveness a set of Principles for boards of directors to address cybersecurity based on the model ISA and NACD (and international board organizations) have developed. WEF will join in the ISA board meeting in April and WEF and ISA will hold a joint “Principles” meeting at WEF headquarters on Thursday, May 14, 2020 (which will likely be changed to an electronic meeting due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis).

ISA conducted a Master Class on the Economics of Cybersecurity for the National Association of Corporate Directors in Miami Florida