Shanahan's October message focuses on cyber

By John Liang / November 5, 2018 at 11:45 AM

With the Pentagon's Cyber Strategy -- issued this fall -- in place, the Defense Department is "driving relentlessly to implement it," according to Deputy Defense Secretary Pat Shanahan.

In his October message recently posted on the Pentagon website, Shanahan focuses mainly on cybersecurity:

We conducted a Cyber Posture Review and are rapidly closing identified gaps, launched a new Cyber Excepted Service, and elevated [U.S. Cyber Command] to a full combatant command. In addition, twice a month I participate alongside senior leadership in a Cyber Working Group to accelerate and integrate implementation efforts across the Department. Together, these leaders -- from [CYBERCOM chief] General [Paul] Nakasone and [Defense Information Systems Agency chief] Vice Admiral [Nancy] Norton to our CIO Dana Deasy and our Under Secretary for Acquisition and Sustainment Ellen Lord -- are modernizing our systems, taking defensive measures to protect our military and other critical systems, and developing the other cyber capabilities identified in our strategy.

We are working hand-in-hand with industry -- from traditional defense to banking, energy, and technologies companies—to protect critical data, technology, and infrastructure. Our military superiority and security -- in cyber as in other areas -- depends on their strength and security. Together, we are raising the bar on cybersecurity and enhancing our coordination through DOD-Industry partnerships such as the Enduring Security Framework and the Defense Industrial Base Cybersecurity Program.

The days of analyzing this problem are over. We are taking action, and we will deliver results. As we charge forward, we must keep pace with the threat, get our warfighters the tools they need, and stay closely coordinated. Cybersecurity is not an IT problem -- computers are central to everything we do and keeping these systems secure is everybody's job. You are on the front lines of this fight -- so, please, take these simple steps to improve your cyber hygiene, and do your part to turn back the enemy.

Read Shanahan's full October message here.

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