Trustworthy Cyberspace: Strategic Plan for the Federal Cybersecurity Research and Development Program

摘要

Cyberspace-the globally interconnected information infrastructure that includes the Internet, telecommunications networks, computer systems, and industrial control systemsis rich in opportunities to improve the lives of people around the world. Assuring continued growth and innovation in cyberspace requires that the public has a well-founded sense of trust in the environment. Increasingly frequent malware attacks and financial and intellectual-property thefts must be addressed in order to sustain public trust in cyberspace but address real threats to national security. The Obama Administration recognizes the magnitude of what is at stake. The Presidents Cyberspace Policy Review unequivocally states that the Government has a responsibility to address strategic cyberspace vulnerabilities to protect the Nation and to ensure that the United States and its citizens can realize the full potential of the information technology revolution. In fulfilling this responsibility, Federal research agencies joined together to develop a strategic plan for cybersecurity research and development (R&D) that confronts underlying and systemic cyberspace vulnerabilities and takes maximum advantage of the Federal governments unique capabilities as a supporter and champion of fundamental research. This strategic plan describes and prioritizes several research themes worthy of further inquiry, and end-states and capabilities that must be achieved in order to fundamentally improve cyberspace. The Plan does not focus on specific technical problems and challenges, e.g., developing better firewalls or more secure operating systems. Rather, by articulating desired end-states and capabilities, the themes reveal important underlying causes of cybersecurity vulnerabilities. By defining the end-states, rather than the paths to get there, the themes invite a diversity of approaches and encourage innovation across disciplines and sectors. Of course, along the way to achieving these larger solutions, many perennial problems and technical challenges will have to be solved.