The Executive Order on Strengthening and Promoting Innovation in the Nation's Cybersecurity, issued by President Biden on January 16, 2025, marks a pivotal shift in how the U.S. government and private sector address cybersecurity. Building on the foundational steps outlined in Executive Order 14028 (May 12, 2021) and the National Cybersecurity Strategy, this new directive focuses on improving software security, advancing innovation, and enhancing collaboration between government agencies and the private sector.
For Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs), this order sets a clear direction for compliance, innovation, and resilience. Below, I analyze its key implications and actionable steps to align organizational cybersecurity strategies with these mandates.
What's changing:
The order mandates stricter software supply chain controls, requiring providers to submit machine-readable attestations, high-level artifacts, and customer lists to the CISA Repository for Software Attestation and Artifacts (RSAA). Agencies are further directed to use only software from providers adhering to secure development practices validated through these attestations.
CISO takeaway:
CISOs must evaluate their software supply chains against these new requirements. Ensuring that vendors comply with the NIST Secure Software Development Framework (SSDF) will be crucial. Establishing internal processes for vendor audits and proactive supply chain monitoring will also be essential to meeting these heightened standards.
What's changing:
The order calls for the integration of NIST SP 800-161 supply chain risk management practices into federal acquisition processes. This includes annual compliance updates and enhanced cybersecurity practices throughout the acquisition lifecycle.
CISO takeaway:
As a CISO, this is a call to revisit and refine your third-party risk management framework. Adopt NIST guidelines to reduce vulnerabilities in the supply chain and ensure that vendor selection prioritizes security. This is particularly critical for organizations providing services to federal clients or working within critical infrastructure sectors.
What's changing:
The order prioritizes AI's role in enhancing cybersecurity, focusing on threat detection, vulnerability management, and automated response capabilities. Pilot programs are planned for critical infrastructure, including energy, to assess AI's effectiveness in real-world scenarios.
CISO takeaway:
The order encourages CISOs to integrate AI-driven solutions into their cybersecurity ecosystems. AI can help organizations detect emerging threats, automate repetitive tasks, and provide actionable insights faster than traditional tools. Investing in AI-powered platforms can significantly bolster cyber defenses.
What's changing:
Federal agencies are directed to continue adopting Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) principles, which emphasize continuous verification of users and devices. This includes implementing phishing-resistant multi-factor authentication (MFA), endpoint detection and response (EDR), and encryption protocols.
CISO takeaway:
Zero Trust is no longer optional—it is essential. CISOs must prioritize implementing ZTA principles, ensuring strict access controls, robust authentication mechanisms, and real-time monitoring. This transition reduces the risk of insider threats and lateral movement within networks.
What's changing:
The Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) will now require cloud service providers to establish baselines for secure configurations, ensuring that federal data is safeguarded.
CISO takeaway:
Organizations must work with cloud providers that meet or exceed these FedRAMP baselines. CISOs should align their cloud strategies with these configurations to enhance compliance and security while benefiting from the scalability of cloud services.
What's changing:
While not explicitly mentioned in the order, conducting a CIS Controls assessment is a strategic step to align with its objectives. The Center for Internet Security (CIS) Controls provide a prioritized set of cybersecurity practices that help organizations mitigate risks, improve resilience, and strengthen their security posture.
CISO takeaway:
A CIS assessment will enable organizations to benchmark their current cybersecurity state, identify gaps, and develop a comprehensive one- and two-year roadmap for improvement. This aligns directly with the order's emphasis on proactive risk management and preparedness.
What's changing:
Penetration testing is a proactive measure aligned with the order's emphasis on risk reduction. By simulating real-world attack scenarios, penetration tests identify exploitable vulnerabilities and validate the effectiveness of existing security controls.
CISO takeaway:
Penetration testing provides actionable insights into vulnerabilities, enabling organizations to address weaknesses before they can be exploited. This proactive approach directly supports the order's focus on innovation and resilience.
This Executive Order presents an opportunity for cybersecurity leaders to align their strategies with evolving federal mandates. By strengthening supply chain security, embracing AI and Zero Trust principles, and conducting comprehensive assessments, organizations can enhance their cyber resilience and readiness for emerging threats. This order is not merely a directive but a framework for transforming cybersecurity practices across the public and private sectors.