CISA looks to global collaboration as fraught US election begins

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) of the United States has launched its first-ever two-year International Strategic Plan. The plan aims to align with domestic plans and policies while focusing on strengthening security and resilience for organizations beyond US borders.

CISA recognizes that the risks faced by US federal agencies, state and local governments, public sector bodies, and operators of critical national infrastructure are complex and do not respect borders. Therefore, collaborative efforts with industry and partner agencies around the world, such as the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), are essential.

CISA Director Jen Easterly stated, “In following this plan, CISA will improve coordination with our partners and strengthen international relationships to reduce risk to the globally interconnected cyber and physical infrastructure that Americans rely on every day.”

The International Strategic Plan focuses on three core pillars:

• Improving the resilience of global infrastructure on which the US depends;
• Strengthening integrated cyber defenses;
• Unifying agency coordination of activities beyond the US.

The plan aims to prevent incidents, disrupt threats, reduce systemic risk, improve global awareness, influence international policy, address cyber capability shortfalls, and enhance bilateral and multilateral exchanges of expertise.

Emily Phelps, director of Cyware, commended CISA’s International Strategic Plan for its emphasis on a collaborative approach to securing critical infrastructure across borders. She highlighted the importance of collective defense in navigating complex cyber threats.

Phelps welcomed the focus on strengthening integrated security defenses and establishing clearer governance structures, noting that it sets a precedent for global cybersecurity initiatives.