The incoming Biden administration should seize an opportunity to work with like-minded nations on norms of cyber behavior, with an emphasis on understanding the most serious risks from cyber attacks and imposing consequences on aggressors, according to former DHS cybersecurity leader Suzanne Spaulding and James Lewis of the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
“I would hope the new administration continues the effort to develop norms” of behavior and consensus on use of sanctions and other tools to punish transgressions, Spaulding said, an approach likely to fit in with the Biden team’s expected pivot to a more collaborative strategy on cybersecurity.
“Prioritize the focus on consequences,” Spaulding said.
“Norms are defined by consequences,” according to Lewis. “This is one of the most important tasks for the new administration.” Lewis also said governments in Europe are eager to engage with the United States on 5G security and forming a common front toward threats from China.
Spaulding and Lewis discussed cyber issues facing the Biden administration Wednesday on a Center for Strategic and International Studies webinar also featuring cyber author David Sanger of The New York Times and Andrew Schwartz.
Both Spaulding and Lewis stressed the need for much greater work with allies on cybersecurity in general, and praised President-elect Biden’s selections so far for his national security team.
Spaulding urged the incoming team to examine consequences from cyber attacks, saying this “doesn’t receive nearly enough attention from policymakers. How do we mitigate the consequences and reduce the impact on Americans?” -- Charlie Mitchell (cmitchell@iwpnews.com)