DHS announces measures to secure critical infrastructure

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has issued a statement indicating the agency’s renewed focus on U.S. cybersecurity and revealing a number of actions to address existing cybersecurity issues, The Hill reports. This includes an increase in cybersecurity spending through Federal Emergency Management Agency grant awards and a review by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency into possible resources that may be tapped to strengthen the defenses of the country’s critical infrastructure against digital threats. The Secret Service will be tasked to use its Cyber Fraud Task Forces to apprehend ransomware attack actors that have targeted schools, hospitals and other critical organizations in the past year. Mayorkas also plans to promote CISA’s new ransomware awareness campaign and participate in several events over the next few weeks to discuss cybersecurity and will also reach out to international partners for talks on cyber defense. “Cybersecurity is more important than ever, and we will build on the Department’s excellent work as we transform our whole-of-government approach to tackle the challenge we face as a nation,” Mayorkas said.