USTelecom, ITI Executives Ramp Up Cybersecurity Effort

Industry and government representatives have been “handicapped” in defending global digital infrastructure, and USTelecom and the Information Technology Industry Council “stand ready” to create “new solutions,” their executives wrote Monday. The organizations last week announced the Council to Secure the Digital Economy (CSDE) (see 1802230054). USTelecom CEO Jonathan Spalter and ITI CEO Dean Garfield co-authored an opinion piece in the Morning Consult saying industries most often targeted for cyberattacks are those with the most to lose, including government and critical infrastructure. They said government and industry made “significant advances” in applying security measures in the U.S., Europe and Asia, but there hasn't been adequate strategic and operational coordination across sectors and countries. Garfield and Spalter cited some positive developments, including President Donald Trump’s executive order in 2017 and other executive branch measures on botnets and automated threats.