Quote:US President Joe Biden today issued a national security memorandum designed to help strengthen the security of critical infrastructure by setting baseline performance goals for critical infrastructure owners and operators.
 
The memorandum comes as a response to recent attacks worldwide, including ransomware attacks on Colonial Pipeline and JBS Foods in the United States that revealed significant vulnerabilities across US infrastructure, largely owned and operated by private sector orgs.
 
It directs the Department of Homeland Security's CISA and the Department of Commerce's NIST, in collaboration with other federal agencies, to develop cybersecurity performance goals and guidance for critical infrastructure orgs.
 
"We expect those standards will assist companies responsible for providing essential services like power, water, and transportation to strengthen their cybersecurity," a White House statement said.
 
"Responsible critical infrastructure owners and operators should be following voluntary guidance as well as mandatory requirements in order to ensure that the critical services the American people rely on are protected from cyber threats," a senior administration official added.