International effort underway by the Biden administration to advance against ransomware attacks on a global scale
The Biden administration has convened a significant international summit to address the growing issue of ransomware attacks, following a resurgence of shadowy activity led by newly formed groups. The virtual meeting, which took place on Wednesday, saw the participation of allies from 30 nations.
The White House provided an update on Thursday regarding the new international cooperation to fight ransomware. The summit emphasized the importance of international cooperation in combating ransomware, a message that Katell Thielemann, research VP at Gartner, believes sends a clear signal that a global community is starting to come together to combat this menace.
The summit was held amidst a resurgence of ransomware activity, primarily by offshoots of some of the world's most active organizations. Notably absent from the meeting was Russia, but a senior State Department official is scheduled to meet with Russian counterparts on the issue this week. The exact details of these negotiations remain undisclosed.
The Biden administration has been proactive in its efforts to combat ransomware following high-profile attacks on the Colonial Pipeline in May and JBS USA in the late spring. In response, the administration has developed a multi-pronged strategy that focuses on four main areas: developing resilience, combating cryptocurrency use, disrupting ransomware activity, and using diplomacy.
Thielemann views the larger effort to combat ransomware as a long-term project, acknowledging the complexity and messiness of the issue. She expects that the situation may worsen before improvements are seen. However, she considers the summit a significant step in highlighting the challenges of ransomware and working towards comprehensive solutions.
Interestingly, the private sector was not included in the summit. This could suggest that future efforts will focus on collaboration between governments and the private sector to effectively combat ransomware attacks.
Russia has taken some steps to combat ransomware activity, but the administration is seeking follow-up actions. Previously, the administration has engaged Russia on ransomware issues through the U.S.-Kremlin Experts Group. The administration has also shared information on criminal ransomware activity taking place within Russia's borders with Russian officials.
The discussions at the summit are expected to continue, marking the beginning of a longer-term project to combat ransomware. The administration has made implicit threats that the U.S. maintains the right to use its strategic cyber capabilities against overseas targets if ransomware attacks continue. This underscores the administration's commitment to protecting the nation from these cyber threats.
In conclusion, the international ransomware summit serves as a crucial step in the global fight against cybercrime. The collaboration between nations demonstrates a shared commitment to combating this growing threat and ensuring the security of digital infrastructure worldwide.
