Critical Gaps Remain in Defense Department Weapons System Cybersecurity

U.S. Cyberspace Solarium Commission analyst Madison Creery warns about the U.S. military’s struggle with the cybersecurity of its most advanced weapons systems, noting that “the very thing that makes these weapons so lethal is what makes them vulnerable to cyberattacks: an interconnected system of software and networks.”

The commission recommends that the Defense Department report annually to Congress on the status of ongoing cyber vulnerability assessments of all its major weapons systems. “Creating a comprehensive, continuous assessment process for these weapons platforms and their cybersecurity vulnerabilities may be tedious and time consuming, but it is essential to ensuring the United States is prepared to prevail in times of crisis and conflict,” Creery says.