President Biden Issues Memorandum on Improving Cybersecurity for Critical Infrastructure Sectors

On July 29, 2021, the White House released a National Security Memorandum on Improving Cybersecurity for Critical Infrastructure Control Systems.

Critical infrastructure sectors, including electric utilities, may be asked to meet voluntary cybersecurity "performance goals" set by the federal government as outlined in the Memorandum.

The Memorandum states: “Protection of our Nation’s critical infrastructure is a responsibility of the government at the Federal, State, local, Tribal, and territorial levels and of the owners and operators of that infrastructure. The cybersecurity threats posed to the systems that control and operate the critical infrastructure on which we all depend are among the most significant and growing issues confronting our Nation. The degradation, destruction, or malfunction of systems that control this infrastructure could cause significant harm to the national and economic security of the United States.”

The Memorandum also states: “Cybersecurity needs vary among critical infrastructure sectors, as do cybersecurity practices. However, there is a need for baseline cybersecurity goals that are consistent across all critical infrastructure sectors, as well as a need for security controls for select critical infrastructure that is dependent on control systems.”

See the White House Memorandum here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/07/28/national-security-memorandum-on-improving-cybersecurity-for-critical-infrastructure-control-systems/