Key Insights from CISA’s 2023-2025 Strategic Plan

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) outlines an ambitious roadmap in its 2023-2025 Strategic Plan, emphasizing a national approach to secure America’s critical infrastructure against evolving cyber and physical threats. With an overarching mission to lead the effort in understanding, managing, and mitigating risk, CISA seeks to enhance collaboration among public and private sectors. The agency’s goals address the modern challenges of cybersecurity, aiming to create resilient infrastructure that supports both public safety and economic stability.

At the core of the strategic plan is the recognition that the threats facing the United States are increasingly complex, spanning both digital and physical domains. CISA identifies the importance of a proactive approach to cyber defense by strengthening the nation’s capacity to prevent, detect, and recover from attacks. Through enhanced detection capabilities and partnerships with state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, as well as the private sector, CISA aims to reduce the risk of vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. Their efforts also include a focus on security-by-default principles, promoting the development of technology with security embedded from the outset to limit exposure to cyber risks.

Reducing risks and strengthening resilience in critical infrastructure sectors are also central to CISA’s goals. The plan recognizes that disruptions to essential infrastructure could have severe consequences for national security, public health, and economic stability. CISA’s strategy is built on the concept of anticipating future risks through data-driven risk management and fostering the ability of organizations to adapt quickly to changing conditions. Additionally, the agency aims to enhance emergency communication capabilities, ensuring continuity and rapid response during major incidents, including natural disasters and cyberattacks.

A key aspect of the strategic plan is fostering collaboration across the nation. CISA stresses the importance of engaging with stakeholders through partnerships to coordinate efforts efficiently. By integrating regional offices into operational planning and maintaining transparent communication channels, the agency seeks to improve the flow of information and leverage local expertise. The emphasis on collaboration extends to election security, where CISA supports state and local authorities by providing resources to counter misinformation and ensure the integrity of election infrastructure.

Internally, CISA focuses on unifying its operations to function as a cohesive organization under the banner of "One CISA." The agency places significant value on building a high-performing workforce and cultivating a culture of innovation, transparency, and inclusion. CISA also aims to streamline operations by adopting modern technologies, fostering cross-divisional collaboration, and aligning its governance processes to better serve its stakeholders.

This strategic framework reflects CISA’s commitment to staying ahead of both known and emerging threats in an interconnected world. It acknowledges the increasing interdependence of sectors and the convergence of cyber-physical systems, requiring a holistic view to manage risks effectively. By combining technical expertise with a focus on building partnerships, CISA aims to create a safer and more resilient infrastructure for the American people.

This blog post is based on publicly available information from CISA’s strategic plan and is intended for informational purposes only. It is not guaranteed to be accurate or comprehensive and does not constitute legal advice.