NIST Director Nominee Emphasizes Increasing Cybersecurity Framework Visibility

Walter Copan​, National Institute of Standards and Technology director nominee, emphasized the importance of increasing the visibility and private sector use of the agency's cybersecurity framework, during a Senate Commerce Committee hearing Wednesday. He faced questions on cybersecurity and on providing support for FirstNet (see 1709270056). Meanwhile, Consumer Product Safety Commission Chairman nominee Ann Marie Buerkle, up for reconfirmation, faced a question from Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., on the extent to which the CPSC should factor into its work IoT and other emerging technologies. The NIST framework is an “essential underpinning for both national security and economic security,” Copan said in response to a question from Chairman John Thune, R-S.D. “If confirmed, I look forward to leading this organization to further develop and communicate” the framework and adapting other cybersecurity tools to a rapidly changing marketplace. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., asked Copan to talk about how he would “ensure FirstNet is able to provide reliable priority service” to first responders. NIST's role “in understanding the allocation of spectrum and supporting technologies for FirstNet is a high priority,” Copan said. Cortez Masto suggested Buerkle consider how CPSC's interest should expand in response to “this new technological age,” particularly in relation to IoT and digital products. “We are beginning our inquiry” into how IoT and other digital products will change how CPSC conducts hazard inquiries and recalls, Buerkle said. “It is something that we are paying attention to and will look to invest some funds into it.”