Obama Announces Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity

Earlier today, President Obama issued an Executive Order creating a Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity within the Department of Commerce.  The commission “will make detailed recommendations to strengthen cybersecurity in both the public and private sectors while protecting privacy, ensuring public safety and economic and national security, fostering discovery and development of new technical solutions, and bolstering partnerships between Federal, State, and local government and the private sector in the development, promotion, and use of cybersecurity technologies, policies, and best practices.”

The appointed commission, which is to be comprised of not more than 12 members “with knowledge about or experience in cybersecurity, the digital economy, national security and law enforcement, corporate governance, risk management, information technology (IT), privacy, identity management, Internet governance and standards, government administration, digital and social media, [or] communications,” is directed to submit a final report of its findings to the President—focusing on actions that can be taken over the next decade—by December 1, 2016.

This announcement comes on the heels of the President’s 2017 budget proposal, which includes $19 billion for broad cybersecurity initiatives.