FORT MEADE, Md. – As technology continues to develop at an increasingly rapid pace, the U.S. needs to participate in and position itself as the leader in the creation of global standards, according to an Enduring Security Framework (ESF) report released today by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).
The report, “Recommendations for Increasing U.S. Participation & Leadership in Standards Development,” recognizes both economic reasons and national security concerns requiring increased U.S. participation in standards development organizations (SDOs). U.S. participation in standards is critical to protecting the security of the American people, expanding economic opportunity, and defending democratic values.
“We’re always working toward open, transparent, consensus-driven standards,” said Atiya Yearwood, deputy chief of NSA’s Cybersecurity Collaboration Center. “This is how we innovate, adapt, advance, and prosper while also protecting security. Areas such as quantum computing and AI are rapidly evolving, and need to be developed carefully and securely, so we need U.S. industry to continue the tradition of strong leadership from the beginning phase of standards development.”
The ESF Industry Specifications Group (ISG) Working Panel, an NSA and CISA-led public-private cross-sector working group, developed the report to provide recommendations for industry, academia, and the U.S. government to sustain and grow engagement in SDOs.
The ESF urges early engagement in critical emerging technology (CETs) standards-related activities, the development of a more standards-savvy U.S. workforce, engagement with academia to grow the next generation of standards experts, and establishing the United States as a venue of choice for hosting standards meetings.
Read the full report here.
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