Cybersecurity Research and Development: Challenges and Solutions

Information technology (IT) has evolved rapidly over the last decade, leading to markedly increased connectivity and productivity. The benefits provided by these advancements have led to the widespread use and incorporation of information technologies across major sectors of the economy. This level of connectivity and the dependence of our critical infrastructures on IT have also increased the vulnerability of these systems. Recent reports of cyber criminals and nation-states accessing sensitive information and disrupting services in both the public and private domains have risen steadily, heightening concerns over the adequacy of our cybersecurity measures. GAO found that the number of incidents reported by federal agencies has increased 782 percent from 2006 to 2012. This dramatic increase is attributed in part to the proliferation and increased sophistication of hacking and cyber attack technology.