Intelligence authorisation bill aimed at US telco breaches gets Senate panel approval.
Chinese state-backed hackers' extensive compromise of U.S. telecommunications networks has prompted the Senate Intelligence Committee to pass an annual intelligence authorisation measure aimed at bolstering telecommunications firms' defences against cyberespionage efforts.
According to The Record, as well as creating cybersecurity requirements for telecommunications providers across the country, the Intelligence Authorisation Act would also harness the intelligence community's "procurement power" in strengthening telecommunications organizations' deterrence from risks posed by Salt Typhoon's attacks. This would provide intelligence agencies billions of dollars to shore up defences.
Multiple clandestine community elements have also been given guidance under the bill, which has been mostly classified due to sensitivities.
Such a development comes just days after the House advanced legislation that would allow leadership of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to address cybersecurity threats against U.S. telecommunications networks.
Written by
Dan Raywood is a B2B journalist with 25 years of experience, including covering cybersecurity for the past 17 years. He has extensively covered topics from Advanced Persistent Threats and nation-state hackers to major data breaches and regulatory changes.
He has spoken at events including 44CON, Infosecurity Europe, RANT Forum, BSides Scotland, Steelcon and the National Cyber Security Show, and served as editor of SC Media UK, Infosecurity Magazine and IT Security Guru. He was also an analyst with 451 Research and a product marketing lead at Tenable.
