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Cyber Hard Problems

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A committee-supported project or activity that has been completed and for which output dissemination has begun. Its committee has been disbanded and closeout procedures are underway.

Topics

The nation relies on cyber systems for commerce, critical infrastructure, national security, and most facets of daily life. However, the growing scale and complexity of cyber technologies–coupled with increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks—are outpacing our efforts to keep them safe, secure, and resilient. A new National Academies report, Cyber Hard Problems: Focused Steps Toward a Resilient Digital Future, presents 10 critical areas where progress could significantly strengthen U.S. cybersecurity.

The report aims to guide federal agencies, industry leaders, researchers, and technology developers in prioritizing investments and aligning efforts, with the goal of building a more secure and trustworthy digital future.

About Past Events

Description

A National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine consensus study will identify key “hard problems” for cyber resiliency. The study will build on prior work sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security—a “Cyber Hard Problem List” first issued in 1996 by the now-sunsetted federal Infosec Research Council and most recently updated in 2006.

The committee’s report will:

  • Provide a current list of hard problems in cyber resiliency, building on earlier hard problems lists and expanding the scope from cybersecurity to cyber resilience.
  • Describe the criteria and process used to select the hard problems;
  • Assess impact and evolution of earlier hard problem lists including influence on cybersecurity R&D investments and activities, progress toward solutions, and items added or removed over time; and
  • Identify ways that the new list could be used to enhance community-wide coordination of R&D activities.

In addition to the consensus study report, a short dissemination product will be prepared that summarizes the list of hard problems.

Collaborators

Committee

Chair

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Sponsors

Office of the National Cyber Director (ONCD)

Staff

Tho Nguyen

Lead

ThoNguyen@nas.edu

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