Former White House Security Official: "Cybersecurity Requires Public-Private Cooperation"

[Financial News] A former high-ranking White House official who responded to last year's telecommunications hacking incident in the United States recently emphasized the need for cooperation between the private sector and the government in relation to a recent cyber intrusion incident in the country. Ann Neuberger, a professor at Stanford University, said at a seminar titled 'Digital Sovereignty and Cybersecurity in the AI Era' hosted by the Korea Economic Association and the Korea Information Security Industry Association at FKI Tower on the 27th, "Cyber weapons are an important means of influencing global affairs and a powerful tool of national action," adding, "We have learned that cyber is a tool of national power in competition, crisis, and conflict." She led the response to the incident as Deputy National Security Advisor when a hacker group hacked at least eight US telecommunications companies and accessed the communication records of senior officials last December.
Professor Neuberger noted that the discovery of malware in the capital and power systems of multiple countries, including the United States, "appears to be preparation for deterring US military mobilization or causing civilian chaos in times of crisis, beyond simple espionage activities." She emphasized, "Although I have experienced both attack and defense at US intelligence agencies for 15 years, I have often witnessed defense lagging behind," adding, "There is a competition between defense and attack, and we must be ahead in defense."
She further stated, "To counter hacking threats, strengthening cooperation between the government and the private sector is essential," and "Since hacking crimes target all countries, solutions must be prepared through public-private cooperation and international solidarity."
She explained, "During the major US telecommunications hacking incident, the initial detection began when a private cybersecurity company informed the US government," adding, "The White House convened telecommunications CEOs to play a role in promoting industry-wide cooperation and response."
Kim Chang-beom, Vice Chairman of the Korea Economic Association, who attended this seminar, said, "Cyberattacks can affect not only individual companies but also the entire industry, national image, and even international credibility," adding, "Now, beyond individual company-level information protection, public-private cooperation at the level of protecting digital sovereignty must be strengthened." Recently, there have been incidents of personal information leakage in the financial sector, ransomware attacks, and global supply chain hacking cases in the country.
Experts believe that a cybersecurity strategy encompassing individuals, companies, and nations is necessary for the sustainability of the digital economy. Kim Hui-gang, a professor at Korea University, said, "Serious risks are arising in the process of collecting large-scale data for AI model training," adding, "The possibility of data leakage related to cybersecurity, such as personal information, has increased." He advised, "It is necessary to analyze the software bill of materials (SBOM) and hardware bill of materials (HBOM) of devices equipped with AI, such as robots and IoT devices, to verify if they are safe from supply chain attacks."
Kim Jin-su, Senior Vice Chairman of the Korea Information Security Industry Association, also argued, "In the AI era, cybersecurity is no longer just a matter for individuals and companies," adding, "A cybersecurity strategy encompassing individuals, companies, and nations is necessary for the sustainability of technological sovereignty and the digital economy."

kjh0109@fnnews.com Kwon Jun-ho Reporter