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The U.S. needs cybersecurity legislation to protect citizens and businesses from increasing rates of cyber attacks and exploitation, according to Booz Allen Hamilton Vice Chairman Mike McConnell.
McConnell, a former national intelligence director in both the Obama and George W. Bush administrations, released a statement Wednesday regarding a new White House executive order aimed at building up the country’s defensive cyber posture.
“We have witnessed growth in nation-state willingness to engage in cyber espionage and destructive attacks at alarming rates,” McConnell said.
That order also contains provisions on information sharing between the government and a voluntary program for companies operating critical infrastructure (click over to our sister site ExecutiveGov for more information on the order).
McConnell, a retired U.S. Navy vice admiral and former National Security Agency director, said the order addresses some of those issues but does not have the same power legislation has in the cyber realm.
“The executive order provides improvements, but it does not take the place of legislation for the needed changes across the cyber security landscape,” he said.
“Legislation also is required to provide appropriate authorities and direction to executive departments of government for improved coordination and cooperation to protect the nation,” according to McConnell.
