United States of America: Adopted National Security Memorandum Improving Cybersecurity for Critical Infrastructure Control Systems

On 28 July 2021, US President Joe Biden released a National Security Memorandum aimed at improving cybersecurity for critical infrastructure control systems. The memorandum sets out the US government's goals for addressing cybersecurity threats to critical infrastructure and is divided into five sections: Policy, Industrial Control Systems Cybersecurity Initiative, Furthering the Industrial Control Systems Cybersecurity Initiative, Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity Performance Goals and General Provisions. The first section states the goal of safeguarding critical infrastructure by focusing on cybersecurity and resilience of systems containing National Critical Functions, specifically government functions and vital private sector functions. The second section deals with the collaboration between the federal government and the Critical infrastructure Community to facilitate the protection of critical infrastructure through technologies that improve risk tracking. The third section emphasises collaboration between the federal government and industry for a better response to cyber threats by enabling information sharing on existing risks. The fourth section deals with goals to be achieved, nominally basic requirements, and practices to be put in place to protect national security. Finally, the fifth section contains general provisions.