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CISA and Partners Release Call to Action to Close the National Software Understanding Gap

Today, CISA—in partnership with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD R&E), and the National Security Agency (NSA)—published Closing the Software Understanding Gap. This report urgently implores the U.S. government to take decisive and coordinated action.

 Software understanding refers to assessing software-controlled systems across all conditions. Mission owners and operators often lack adequate capabilities for software understanding because technology manufacturers build software that greatly outstrips the ability to understand it. This gap, along with the lack of secure by design software being created by technology manufacturers, can lead to the exploitation of software vulnerabilities.

 The U.S. government has engaged in activities that have paved the way toward improving software understanding, including research investments, mission agency initiatives, and policy actions. This report further explores the opportunity for enhanced coordination to strengthen technical foundations and progress towards a more vigorous understanding of software on a national scale. To learn more about development practices and principles that build cybersecurity into the design and manufacture of technology products, visit CISA’s Secure by Design webpage.

About

Kenya Education Network CERT(KENET-CERT) is a Cybersecurity Emergency Response Team and Co-ordination Center operated by the National Research and Education Network of Kenya. KENET-CERT coordination center promotes awareness on cybersecurity incidences as well as coordinates and assists member institutions in responding effectively to cyber security threats and incidences. KENET-CERT works closely with Kenya's National CIRT coordination center (CIRT/CC) as a sector CIRT for the academic institutions. KENET promotes use of ICT in Teaching, Learning and Research in Higher Education Institutions in Kenya. KENET aims to interconnect all the Universities, Tertiary and Research Institutions in Kenya by setting up a cost effective and sustainable private network with high speed access to the global Internet. KENET also facilitates electronic communication among students and faculties in member institutions, share learning and teaching resources by collaboration in Research and Development of Educational content.