A Look Inside McCrary Institute's Presidential Transition Report

In this episode of Cyber Focus, host Frank Cilluffo discusses cybersecurity priorities for the incoming administration with Mark Montgomery, co-author and leader of the Cyber Solarium 2.0 Commission, and George Barnes, former deputy director of the NSA. They delve into the McCrary Institute's new presidential transition report that presents a strategic roadmap to maintain the progress achieved in cybersecurity. The report highlights eight lines of effort, ranging from regulatory harmonization and collaboration to building workforce capacity and securing emerging technologies, with the ultimate goal of safeguarding national security and economic resilience.

Main Topics Covered:

• The purpose and composition of the transition report
• Maintaining cybersecurity momentum across administrations
• Eight lines of effort to ensure cybersecurity continuity
  • Unifying the regulatory landscape
  • Synergy in cybersecurity protection
  • Cost imposition and deterrence strategies
  • Resiliency through proactive risk reduction
  • Enhancing cyber statecraft and international collaboration
  • Building workforce capacity and volunteer support
  • Safeguarding critical and emerging technologies
  • Ensuring continuity of the economy

Key Quotes:

“Irrespective of who wins the presidency in November, cybersecurity is going to be a priority and must be elevated.” – Frank Cilluffo

“The most important thing in Washington is momentum, and to have momentum, you have to have ideas.” – Mark Montgomery

"Cyber transcends the air, land, sea space and the reality is this has implications and impact much broader from a national security and economic security perspective." – Frank Cilluffo

"You can't just sit there and defend. You actually have to put pressure and cost and position in the other direction." – George Barnes

"The one thing [autocracies] can't do well is partner. They're very transactional and domineering, as we know. And so partnerships really matter." – George Barnes

“[We] need to first achieve regulatory harmonization. You can't continue to pile requirement on requirement on the private sector without first ensuring that you're not asking them to do the same thing in five different manners.” – Mark Montgomery

Related Links:

The full report:
https://eng.auburn.edu/mccrary/pttf/

Guest Bios:

• Mark Montgomery is the leader of the Cyber Solarium 2.0 Commission, focusing on strategies to improve national cybersecurity and protect critical infrastructure, and a senior fellow at the McCrary Institute. 
• George Barnes is the former deputy director of the National Security Agency (NSA), a senior fellow at the McCrary Institute, and the Cyber Practice President and Partner at Red Cell Partners