US cyber responses will be 'linked to adversary actions' and involve industry coordination, official says

"Future U.S. government responses in cyberspace will be "linked to adversary actions" and will involve coordination between the private sector and smaller governments, a top White House official said Thursday. The dynamic, which will be codified in a forthcoming national cyber strategy, is meant to make clear that foreign adversaries' actions that target U.S. networks have consequences, according to Alexandra Seymour, who serves as the principal deputy assistant national cyber director for policy in the Office of the National Cyber Director."

""To do this, we will need to coordinate closely with state and local governments and the private sector, including critical infrastructure owners and operators, who are often at the front lines of our cyberdefense," Seymour said at CyberScoop's CyberTalks event in Washington, D.C. Her remarks align with a broader desire in the Trump administration to take a more gloves-off approach to countering foreign rivals when they target U.S. computer networks."

Future U.S. cyber responses will be formally linked to adversary actions and coordinated with state and local governments and private-sector entities, including critical infrastructure owners and operators. The forthcoming national cyber strategy will codify that dynamic to signal that foreign targeting of U.S. networks carries consequences. The current administration favors a more aggressive posture against foreign intrusions into telecom and critical infrastructure. Private-sector participation in offensive measures is anticipated but details remain unclear and controversial due to escalation risks and blurred lines between state and private activity. U.S. intelligence and military cyber agencies already hold legal authority to conduct offensive operations. The strategy release is expected soon.

Read at Nextgov.com