FBI Targets Hiring, Partnerships in New Cyber Strategy
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) released its first agency-wide unclassified cyber strategy and it calls for the FBI to “compete for and retain the best cyber talent in the nation.”
The strategy is based on four pillars: investigating, disrupting and imposing costs on cyber adversaries; supporting victims; increasing “impact” through partnerships; and enhancing the FBI’s own cyber capabilities. It also intends to unify the bureau’s 56 field offices to counter growing cyber threats.
“Our strategy is really focused on moving beyond the ad-hoc way that we do [disruptions] right now … to do it in a more steady state,” said FBI Cyber Division Assistant Director Brett Leatherman at the Billington Cybersecurity Summit.
Hiring Goals
The FBI says it will prioritize the hiring, development, and retention of employees in key roles. These include special agents, intelligence analysts, computer scientists, data scientists, malware analysts, cryptocurrency specialists, technical operators, and field cyber leaders.
The strategy says the FBI will draw from the private sector, academia, government, and military to “draw from the broadest possible talent base.”
There are plans to offer training, mentorship, and professional development opportunities for both leaders and technical experts, with the FBI’s Cyber Education and Training Unit spearheading that work through classroom instruction and hands-on training.
The strategy also calls for the FBI workforce to implement new tools and techniques to stay ahead of cyber adversaries. That includes using artificial intelligence (AI) in specific cases where it can improve speed, scale, accuracy, and operational decision making, under FBI authorities.
Cooperation with Private Sector
Another pillar of the strategy is working with the private sector. That includes improving intelligence sharing on threats and cyberattacks.
Assistant Director Brett Leatherman says that in the past, the private sector has been hesitant to alert the FBI to potential cybersecurity concerns. He says the FBI is “trying to be very vocal” about its obligation to protect information provided by cyber incident victims.
The FBI will also share more timely and actionable cyber threat intelligence with private industry.
Investigative Pivots
And on the investigation front, the strategy calls for teams focusing on specific threats including Russia and China, to develop their own customized plans. Tailored strategies will also be developed for teams on specific types of operations, including offensive hacking and investigating operational technology breaches.
