Business Executives for National Security Signs Joint Statement Calling for Private Sector Collaboration to Improve Security of Nation’s Critical Infrastructure

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
June 7, 2022

CONTACT: Nate Thompson 
(202) 296-2125 
nthompson@bens.org

WASHINGTON, DC—To advance effective engagement on cybersecurity-related issues, Business Executives for National Security (BENS) has signed a joint statement released June 7 at the RSA Conference calling for increased private and public sector collaboration to protect critical infrastructure. BENS joins signatories organized by the Multilateral Cyber Action Committee urging additional actions to address issues such as the Solar Winds supply chain attack, log4J vulnerabilities, ransomware attacks, and threats from Russian and other malicious nation-state actors.

“Never has collaboration between the private and public sectors been more critical to defending U.S. interests in cyberspace,” said BENS President and CEO General Joseph Votel, USA (Ret.). “Only full integration of the best technologies, talent, and processes from business, government, and the military can successfully repel the constant assault from our adversaries.”

Organizations behind the statement pledged to deepen existing partnerships with key agencies including the Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative (JCDC), Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA), and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to protect American and allied and partner critical networks during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Furthermore, the effort aims to increase collective understanding of cyber threats, enhance contingency planning, and improve the legal and regulatory framework for cyber defense with industry-recognized standards to increase U.S. security and resilience commensurate with today’s threat levels.

The statement was developed by the Multilateral Cyber Action Committee, a group established last year by the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) to “call attention to critical cybersecurity issues meriting the attention of both governments and businesses, recommend actions for public and private sector actors (both domestic and international), and translate calls for norms and policies in cyberspace into concrete applications.” The Multilateral Cyber Action Committee is led by former DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff, former Director of National Intelligence ADM (ret.) Michael Rogers, and former Chairman and CEO of RSA Security Art Coviello.

The 31st annual RSA Conference is the premier global event where the world talks security, and leadership gathers, advances and emerges. For more information, visit rsaconference.com/about.