The Bush administration has drafted a federal plan to improve cybersecurity research and development. Yesterday, the National Science and Technology Council, a Cabinet-level body that coordinates governmentwide science and technology policies, issued a preprint release of the “Federal Plan for Cyber Security and Information Assurance Research and Development.
In addressing gaps in the country’s current cybersecurity activities, the 121-page report recommends setting R&D priorities and strengthening coordination between agencies and the private sector. The plan also calls for implementing emerging technologies, road maps and metrics. It does not address specific funding levels or budgets. Industry officials and lawmakers had been urging the administration to improve federal cybersecurity and information assurance R&D. Officials are billing this plan as the first step toward developing a federal agenda. Members of more than 20 government organizations prepared the document as part of the Interagency Working Group on Cyber Security and Information Assurance.

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