Patrick Shanahan, deputy secretary of defense, said that cybersecurity will become the Defense Department‘s key basis in evaluating the defense industry, Fifth Domain reported Wednesday. His comments come as the Pentagon urges the industry to boost its cybersecurity focus, in support of a new cyber strategy.
Shanahan added that contractors belonging to the industry’s top tier are responsible for managing the supply chain and helping lower tier firms maintain security in products.
The DoD is implementing a new cybersecurity strategy aiming to address cyber threats posed by foreign competitors such as China and Russia.
This strategy is intended to increase force lethality, grow partnerships, reform the department, develop talent and help the U.S. compete in cyber space.
