Threat Intelligence, Network Security

NSA hacker Joyce will be White House Cyber Czar, reports say

The White House has tapped the National Security Agency's top hacker Rob Joyce as its "Cyber Czar," according to reports Tuesday.

Joyce has headed up the agency's Tailored Access Operations group since 2013.

The administration has been slow to fill key cybersecurity roles but selecting Joyce is seen as a step toward strengthening the White House's cyber posture. 

"Rob Joyce is a strong pick for White House cyber coordinator. He has a sophisticated understanding of the problem and is respected within the security industry,"  Amit Yoran, CEO and chairman of Tenable and the nation's first cyber czar, said in comments emailed to SC Media. "I'm confident in his ability to work both within the government and with the private sector to improve national cybersecurity." 

Mike Overly, information security and privacy partner at Foley & Lardner LLP, called the Joyce pick "a solid step in the right direction."

He noted that business has been missing a "specific direction" to achieve requited security levels. "An expert, such as Mr. Joyce, brings that to the table. In trying to comply with the many security regulations being promulgated at both the federal and state levels, what businesses need is specifics, not generalized statements," Overly said in comments emailed to SC Media. "The choice of Mr. Joyce, in combination with other activities of the Trump administration relating to regulations, in general, and security, in particular, is movement to afford greater clarity to businesses regarding their obligations concerning information security.”

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