Fighting ransomware attacks is now the Department of Homeland Security's number one priority, and a plan to be more proactive is already in place.
In an RSA conference webcast Wednesday, Alejandro Mayorkas, the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, discussed current cybersecurity challenges and outlined a strategy intended to tackle the top threats first, using the government's limited resources. Mayorkas outlined five areas to improve on: detection, information sharing, modernizing federal cybersecurity, federal procurement and federal incident response.
To combat what he referred to as a "monumental challenge," the government devised new initiatives such as 60-day "cyber sprints" to address urgent priorities. The first sprint will tackle ransomware.
"Let me be clear: Ransomware now poses a national security threat," Mayorkas said in the webcast.
Ransomware attacks have increased in recent years as operators adopted new tactics like public leak sites where they post stolen data if a ransom goes unpaid. Attacks spiked significantly during the pandemic, impacting some of the most vulnerable sectors including hospitals and schools. During the webcast, Mayorkas referred to the ransomware attacks against those and other critical infrastructures as "horrendous acts" and said those behind them should be held accountable.
"There are actors out there who maliciously use ransomware during an unprecedented and ongoing global pandemic, disrupting hospitals as hundreds of thousands die. This should shock everyone's conscience," he said.
DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas discusses the growing threat of ransomware during an RSA Conference webcast.
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