WHITE HOUSE Releases Cybersecurity Guide

The Obama administration has put out a highly-anticipated cybersecurity framework aimed at pushing businesses to strengthen their digital networks against attacks. The voluntary guidance, established by the president via executive order and developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, gives critical infrastructure firms tips on how to prevent and respond to the growing risks from hackers. The threat has received greater attention from lawmakers in recent weeks following major breaches at U.S. retailers.

The guide includes a description of four implementation “tiers” that a business can use to compare its cybersecurity practices to the standards set in the framework, as well as a description of how it can evaluate its cybersecurity profile and identify areas for improvement. The document also provides guidance on privacy and civil liberties considerations arising from cybersecurity operations. ( DOD, The Hill, NYT)