CISA's recap of 2022 showcases advancements and possibilities for collaborative security efforts
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has had a productive year, with a focus on improving cybersecurity and resilience across various sectors.
In a blog post published by the agency, it was revealed that CISA facilitated 713 coordinated vulnerability disclosure cases and produced 416 vulnerability advisories. These efforts aim to help organisations address potential security threats and protect their systems.
Jen Easterly, the director of CISA, who assumed office in July 2021, highlighted the agency's achievements in her recent blog post. CISA currently employs 2,800 staff members and has a budget of nearly $2.9 billion.
The agency has been working with partners inside and outside the government to enhance their security. New technologies were deployed across nearly 50 federal agencies to increase visibility into threats and incidents targeting federal networks.
CISA is a unique agency in the federal government, serving as a coordinating body for cyber defense and response. It is not a law enforcement agency, an intelligence agency, a military organization, or a traditional regulator.
In April 2022, the Joint Cybersecurity Defense Collaborative expanded to include industrial control systems security vendors, integrators, and distributors. This move is aimed at strengthening collaboration and sharing of information to combat cyber threats.
CISA's operations are subject to some restraints that limit its power. However, the agency has managed to make significant strides in its mission. For instance, it triaged 37,875 cyber incident reports and acted on 2,609 incidents requiring its assistance.
The Cyber Safety Review Board, established by CISA, released its inaugural post-mortem incident report on Log4j. The board, which is made up of experts from various sectors, aims to conduct thorough investigations into significant cyber incidents and provide recommendations for improvement.
CISA's cybersecurity performance goals offer a roadmap for under-resourced organizations. The agency recently released 37 voluntary cybersecurity performance goals to establish baseline measures for businesses and critical infrastructure organisations.
Looking forward, CISA plans to hire 600 additional staff members and open its first-ever Attache Office in London. The agency also requested public input on new incident reporting mandates under the Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act of 2022.
The Cyber Safety Review Board's next report will examine the Lapsus$ ransomware gang, providing insights into the group's tactics, techniques, and procedures. This report is expected to provide valuable information for organisations to strengthen their defences against such threats.
As we move forward, it is clear that CISA will continue to play a crucial role in protecting the nation's cybersecurity infrastructure. The agency's dedication to collaboration, innovation, and transparency is commendable, and its efforts are essential in the ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape.
