The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announced the first step in the development of a cybersecurity framework for critical infrastructure protection, a set of voluntary standards and best practices to guide industry in reducing cyber risks. Pres. Obama called for the cybersecurity framework in an executive order aimed at “Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity.” In accordance with the executive order, the secretary of commerce directed NIST to lead the framework’s development to reduce cyber risks to critical infrastructure, such as power plants and financial, transportation and communications systems.
