The U.S. Department of Commerce is dedicated to creating the conditions needed for business growth and innovation. This means securing the digital economy as a platform for economic opportunities, which requires the formation of strong national cybersecurity. Pritzker knows that success and cybersecurity go hand in hand with America’s economic and national security and advocates for industry and government collaboration in forming effective cybersecurity practices. She will discuss the administration’s efforts to strengthen our national cybersecurity position and how the Commission for Enhancing National Cybersecurity will inform policymakers about the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

The FBI is the primary agency responsible for investigating and prosecuting cybercriminals. The Bureau is aware of the growing frequency and complexity of cyberattacks, which is why a cooperative relationship with the private sector is critical to respond to significant cyber incidents. Johnson will examine the FBI’s resources and capabilities in mitigating cyber threats to the private sector.

Encryption is an important topic of conversation in national cybersecurity debates. Businesses need strong encryption to protect data from cyber theft and law enforcement officials have repeatedly underscored the “going dark” problem in investigating criminal activity. The encryption debate has the potential to create some rift between government and industry, which threatens the joint efforts made to establish collaborative national cybersecurity policies. The discussion is still in its early stages, and bipartisan proposals have been initiated, such as the Digital Security Commission Act of 2016. Co-sponsor McCaul will discuss the bill and the significance of thoroughly evaluating the role of encryption in our economic and national security.

Cyberattacks against America’s critical infrastructure have become a major concern for national security leaders. Cyber-attackers no longer need to execute physical damage to seriously affect critical infrastructure systems. Because 85% of America’s critical infrastructure is owned and operated by the private sector, it is crucial that the intelligence community and industry coordinate and share threat information to protect these systems. As cyberattacks increase in sophistication, we need forward thinking and innovative public-private partnerships to strengthen critical infrastructure cybersecurity and thwart malicious actors.