Write a 5-page paper analyzing 2023’s National Cybersecurity Strategy Implementation Plan (NCSIP), which supports the NCS 2023, the Biden Administration’s approach to cybersecurity. Keep in mind that NIST recommends an approach to and best practices for cybersecurity. It is voluntary not a mandatory scheme. However, certain industries require the NIST approach. In addition, Congress has passed laws that mandate the NIST approach, especially for critical industries. A general outline is provided to provide a broad structure for the paper. You may use additional sections and add them to the paper. This is a lot of material, and the paper is brief. The idea is not to be overly comprehensive, but instead to convey that you understand and can clearly state what the NCS 2023 does, how it is expected to work, and to have you demonstrate your ability to analyze a policy and explain how it can be applied from a governance perspective.
Directions
In your paper, be sure to address each of the following prompts:
1. Explain your perspective on the NCSIP’s shift to partnering with and relying on the private sector. List 5 key elements of the plan and analyze them. Discuss whether you think this could be more or less successful than the federal government’s previous strategies, based on the elements in the plan and the articles written about it, that are in your resources. You will base your analysis on these, other resources you find and cite, and your experience if you are working in this field.
The NCSIP’s approach is a calculated risk. It could be more successful than previous strategies because it aligns responsibility with capability. Private tech companies and critical infrastructure operators have the resources, expertise, and direct control over the systems that malicious actors target. By holding these entities accountable and encouraging a "secure-by-design" mentality, the plan can proactively address vulnerabilities at their source rather than reacting to them after an attack. This is a more scalable and sustainable approach. Previous strategies often focused on information sharing, which, while valuable, did not force the private sector to embed security into their products and services from the outset.
However, this approach could also be less successful if the private sector is not fully on board. Many companies may resist new regulations, especially if they are costly or perceived as a barrier to innovation. The NCSIP attempts to mitigate this with a voluntary approach like the NIST framework, but there is always a chance that industries will not adopt the best practices unless they are mandated.
Sample Answer
An Analysis of the National Cybersecurity Strategy Implementation Plan (NCSIP) 2023
The Biden Administration's National Cybersecurity Strategy (NCS) 2023 and its accompanying Implementation Plan (NCSIP) represent a significant shift in the U.S. approach to cybersecurity. The core of this new strategy is a rebalancing of responsibility, moving the burden of cybersecurity from individual users and small businesses to the "most capable and best-positioned" entities, namely the federal government and the private sector. The NCSIP serves as a roadmap to achieve this vision, outlining concrete actions and timelines.
A key perspective on the NCSIP is its emphasis on partnership with and reliance on the private sector. In the past, federal cybersecurity efforts were often seen as a top-down, government-led initiative. While there were public-private partnerships, the government often viewed itself as the primary defender of cyberspace. The NCSIP, however, acknowledges the reality that the vast majority of critical infrastructure and digital services are owned and operated by the private sector. By shifting responsibility to these more capable actors, the strategy recognizes that a secure digital ecosystem cannot be achieved without their direct, collaborative involvement. This is a fundamental change from previous strategies, which, while mentioning public-private partnerships, did not place the same level of shared responsibility on the private sector.