Computing Community Consortium Blog

The goal of the Computing Community Consortium (CCC) is to catalyze the computing research community to debate longer range, more audacious research challenges; to build consensus around research visions; to evolve the most promising visions toward clearly defined initiatives; and to work with the funding organizations to move challenges and visions toward funding initiatives. The purpose of this blog is to provide a more immediate, online mechanism for dissemination of visioning concepts and community discussion/debate about them.


White House Unveils Cybesecurity R&D Roadmap

December 6th, 2011 / in big science, policy, research horizons / by Erwin Gianchandani

White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP)Earlier today, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) released a new report — Trustworthy Cyberspace: Strategic Plan for the Federal Cybersecurity Research and Development Program — specifying an agenda for game-changing cybersecurity R&D. As U.S. CTO Aneesh Chopra and White House Cybersecurity Coordinator Howard Schmidt noted in a blog post, the report provides “a roadmap to ensuring long-term reliability and trustworthiness of the digital communications network that is increasingly at the heart of American economic growth and global competitiveness.”

In particular, the plan defines four strategic thrusts (after the jump):

  1. Inducing Change — using game-changing themes to understand the root causes of existing cybersecurity deficiencies with the goal of disrupting the status quo;
  2. Developing Scientific Foundations — minimizing future cybersecurity problems by developing the science of security;
  3. Maximizing Research Impact — catalyzing coordination, collaboration, and integration of research activities across Federal agencies for maximum effectiveness; and
  4. Accelerating Transition to Practice — expediting improvements in cyberspace from research findings through focused transition programs.

And according to Chopra and Schmidt:

Given the magnitude and pervasiveness of cyberspace threats to our economy and national security, it is imperative that we fundamentally alter the dynamics in cybersecurity through the development of novel solutions and technologies. The Federal government is in a unique position to leverage its fundamental research resources to address the underlying causes of cybersecurity problems. Using this strategic plan as a road map, sustained efforts in these areas will result in a more secure and trustworthy cyberspace. We invite researchers and innovators in industry and academia to join us in this effort. Together, we can maximize the benefits of research and accelerate their transition into the marketplace.

Read the report here — and learn more about the key themes here.

(Contributed by Erwin Gianchandani, CCC Director)

White House Unveils Cybesecurity R&D Roadmap