Citation[]
Executive Office of the President, President's Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology, Immediate Opportunities for Strengthening the Nation's Cybersecurity (Nov. 2013) (full-text).
Overview[]
This document points to areas where executive action can accelerate progress toward protecting the nation's information systems and assets — a topic of growing concern given that society and the economy have become increasingly dependent on Internet-connected devices and information systems.
The report recommends the government phase out insecure, outdated operating systems, like Windows XP, implement better encryption technology, and encourage automatic security updates, among other changes. PCAST also recommends, for regulated industries, that the government help create cybersecurity best practices and audit their adoption — and for independent agencies, PCAST write new rules that require businesses to report their cyber improvements.