US military taking cyber security lessons from the private sector

As evidenced by a new document from the DOD, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE STRATEGY FOR OPERATING IN CYBERSPACE, published July 2011, the US military is taking "learning lessons" from the private sector in cyber security, agility, lifecycle management and supply-chain protection.

The new agenda calls for copying attributes in the private sector, including best practices for securing networks.

"DoD will integrate the private sector's continuous renewal method to harden its own computing devices and sustain its cyber hygiene best practices."

In addition, the new initiative relies on the private sector for meeting some of it's goals. This may include a working relationship between ISPs and the government--helping to mitigate risks that affect military networks.

Additionally, to advance the modernity of it's approach, the military will shorten the lifecycle for network infrastructure to come in line with common private industry practices--from the previous 7-8 years to now 12-36 months.