Critical steps for securing cyberspace – Microsoft on the Issues – Microsoft

Recently, we identified cyberattacks targeting people and organizations involved in the upcoming presidential election. While we are committed to defending our democracy against these attacks through notifications of such activity to impacted customers, security features in our products and services, and legal and technical disruptions, the role of government in addressing these threats has never been more important. Beyond the most recent attacks targeting U.S. elections, nation-states and cyber criminals continue to conduct attacks and steal data and dollars with impunity.

We can and must do better. On a national and global level, Microsoft has been an active participant with government and private-sector partners to strengthen cybersecurity. The opportunity for Congress to do its part and take meaningful steps to advance cybersecurity is right before us. Recent recommendations from theCyberspace Solarium Commissionoffer opportunities to strengthen government and build deeper public and private partnerships in order to advance our collective cybersecurity.

Building trust and security in cyberspace requires sustained global engagement and collaboration across key multilateral and multi-stakeholder dialogues. Strengthened U.S. leadership is needed now more than ever. Importantly, the Commission contemplates working with a coalition of like-minded allies and partners willing to collectively support a rules-based international order in cyberspace to better hold malign actors accountable. We support this vision. However, in current practice, the lack of U.S. leadership in key dialogues at the United Nations and multi-stakeholder convenings such as the Paris Call for Trust and Security has inhibited progress. Moreover, as the Commission notes, and as we have seen through our participation, a leadership vacuum creates an opportunity for harmful agendas to gain traction.

Cyberattacks are increasing every day. These attacks are threatening ordamagingour enterprises, critical infrastructure, elections and citizens who use the internet for banking, commerce, communication, education, entertainment and all the activities of modern society.Many of the ideas and recommendations put forward in the Commissions reporthave become even more important since its work was completed, as the COVID-19 pandemic has intensified all of societysreliance on the internet.

In the context of all of these considerations, the Solarium Commission has made some specific recommendations that are critical to advancing our collective cybersecurity, and, as we approach National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we stronglyrecommend thatCongress acton them:

The U.S. Government is well positioned to lead the world in domestic cybersecurity, and as an advocate for meaningful cybersecurity principles globally. Microsoft has long been an active participant in international cybersecurity policy and has worked continuously to collaborate with governments to strengthen security and improve the safety of the internet for all. We will continue to engage in this much-needed cybersecurity discourse both here and abroad. We commend the Cyberspace Solarium Commission for its thoughtful recommendations and believe that they warrant careful consideration by Congress. We call on members of Congress to take action on the Commissions recommended solutions to establish mechanisms for the U.S. to strengthen its cybersecurity, facilitate collaboration among stakeholders and be a leader on critical global efforts.

Tags: cyberattacks, cybersecurity, Cyberspace Solarium Commission, National Cyber Security Awareness Month

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Critical steps for securing cyberspace - Microsoft on the Issues - Microsoft

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