The public unveiling of the administrationâs international cybersecurity strategy yesterday brought out leading national security advisers, diplomats, and industry and academic representatives, all recognizing that in 2011 cybersecurity is a part of national security.
White House counterterrorism adviser John O. Brennan and cyber coordinator Howard A. Schmidt hosted the event, which also included speeches by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III, Attorney General Eric Holder Jr., Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.
âIt is hard to overstate the importance of cyberspace to the Department of Defense or the need to engage our allies and partners to keep it secure,â said Lynn, who has spearheaded the departmentâs cyber efforts. That partnership simultaneously looks outward, spanning international relations with U.S. allies, and inward, building relationships with the private sector.
âThe strategy the president is releasing today provides a framework for how we can expand this cooperation and establishes how network security relates to other critical areas of partnership,â Lynn added.
The strategyâs seven key policy priorities are economic engagement, cybersecurity, law enforcement, military cooperation, multiple-stakeholder Internet governance, development and Internet freedom.
Clinton has been among the most identified in the administration with the concept of Internet freedom, delivering remarks championing the Internetâs abilities to foment social change.
âWe are seeing cyberspace transform before our very eyes,â she said yesterday. âNow we must shape this transformation.â