Enhanced 2023 Budget Proposal of Biden Administration Allocates 11% Boost for Cybersecurity
The Biden administration has proposed a significant boost in cybersecurity spending for the upcoming fiscal year, with a focus on modernizing the nation's IT infrastructure and strengthening security across federal agencies.
Under the fiscal 2023 budget, many federal agencies are set to increase their oversight for the nation's critical infrastructure and collaborate more closely with private industry partners. This move comes amidst concerns that critical infrastructure providers, which are among the most at risk of nation-state attacks, often lack the resources to invest in overhauling their technology with the best cybersecurity practices in mind.
The budget allocates $11.2 billion to the Department of Defense, including the rollout of zero trust architecture across all military departments and defense agencies. This architectural approach aims to prevent unauthorised access to systems and data, thereby enhancing cybersecurity.
The Department of Treasury will receive a total of $215 million to protect its systems and information. Meanwhile, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is earmarked for $2.5 billion, slightly below the fiscal 2022 levels. The budget includes funding for additional Cyber Mission Force Teams, which include U.S. Cyber Command personnel to respond to attacks against the nation.
The budget also provides $175 million to help increase resilience for privately owned critical infrastructure. Josh Lospinoso, CEO at Shift5 and a cybersecurity expert, has expressed concern that there is not enough focus on operational technology at critical infrastructure providers. He is not alone in his concerns, as corporate stakeholders are seeking to better understand the risk calculus of their technology stacks, wanting to know if they are potential targets.
The proposed budget allocates $1.2 billion related to cybersecurity for the FBI and the Department of Justice. This includes about $150 million in cyber program enhancements. Deputy AG Lisa Monaco stated that investing in cybersecurity has never been more important.
However, the budget has not escaped criticism. Former House Rep. Mike Rogers has criticized the administration's budget priorities, stating that they are not forward-thinking enough, focusing on fixing weaknesses instead of building for the future.
The fiscal 2023 budget reflects an effort by the Biden administration to address these concerns, as it allocates $11 billion toward civilian cybersecurity spending, a 10% increase from the previous year. The budget also includes $8 million for the CISA Cybersecurity Advisory Committee, Cyber Safety Review Board, and the creation of an Advisory Council Program Management Office.
As the nation grapples with the ever-evolving cyber threat landscape, the proposed budget aims to provide the resources needed to strengthen cybersecurity and protect critical infrastructure. Whether these efforts will be enough to deter potential attacks remains to be seen.
