White House expects cybersecurity report Friday

The Obama administration will release its long-awaited report on its 60-day review of federal government’s cybersecurity policy on May 29, according to White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.

“The administration recognizes the very serious threats public and private sector networks face from cybercrime and cyberattack,” Gibbs said during Tuesday’s press briefing. “Recognizing these threats the President has elevated cybersecurity to a major administration priority, undertaking the early comprehensive interagency review.”

The much-anticipated report is expected to include recommendations for a White House organizational structure to deal with cyber threats and an action plan to guide future efforts. In specific, the report is expected to put to answer the ongoing question of whether the White House will appoint a so-called cyber czar to coordinate efforts.

An article published Tuesday in the Washington Post, citing unnamed sources who had been briefed on the plan, said the plan would call for the creation of such a position that “will have broad authority to develop strategy to protect the nation's government-run and private computer networks.” The Post article also said the report will not resolve questions around what role the National Security Agency will have in protecting private-sector networks.