How should the U. S. respond to cyberattacks? That’s been a major question at this year’s RSA security conference, following Russia’s suspected attempt to influence last year’s election.
How should the U. S. respond to cyberattacks? That’s been a major question at this year’s RSA security conference, following Russia’s suspected attempt to influence last year’s election.
Clearly, the government should be doing more on cybersecurity, said U. S. lawmakers and officials at the show in San Francisco, but they admit that politics and policy conflicts have hampered the government’s approach.
“I wish the federal government could do this, but it’s very hard, unfortunately, due to partisan politics,” said Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, during a speech at the show. “They haven’t been able to take the lead on this issue as they should have.”
Instead, it might be up to the states to assume a larger role in promoting cybersecurity, given that divisive politics at the federal level have been stalling government action, McAuliffe said on Tuesday.
The RSA conference 2017.
Collectively, state governments store more data than the federal government, including residents’ tax returns, healthcare records and drivers’ licenses, he said. That can make them targets of hackers, so McAuliffe has been urging other states to make cybersecurity a priority.
“It’s up to the governors of this country to lean in and take the lead,” he said.
At the RSA show, U. S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) said the U. S. is falling behind on cybersecurity, pointing to the numerous hacks from state-sponsored hackers. “We are in the fight of our digital lives and we are not winning,” he said.
