ACT-IAC looks to 'dramatically improve' federal cybersecurity

The American Council for Technology and Industry Advisory Council are surveying IT professionals and the public for suggestions on how to “dramatically improve” federal cybersecurity. ACT-IAC will report its findings to federal CIO Tony Scott by the end of September.

The initiative, announced July 29, seeks feedback from academia, industry, government and anyone else with a bright idea on how to address a vexing problem.

The call for help consists of eight questions on issues ranging from the acquisition process to risk management. One question reads: “How should the government expand beyond its emphasis on perimeter defense and … put more relative resources toward combining actionable threat intelligence with robust response and resiliency strategies and architectures that account for the adversary’s point of view?”

The comment period ends Aug. 28. The initiative won’t endorse specific products or services, the group said. ACT-IAC needs a group of experts to review submitted answers and prepare a report for the Office of Management and Budget. Nominations for that working group are due Aug. 6.

“Today, as the nation is facing more security breaches than ever before, it is vital that government and industry executives work together to strengthen the government’s cybersecurity posture,” ACT-IAC Executive Director Kenneth Allen said in a statement.