From: Wall Street Journal
By DANNY YADRON
WASHINGTON—American businesses want more help from government officials in fighting cyber attacks, although they continue to oppose government-prescribed safeguards, MasterCard Inc. Chief Executive Ajay Banga said on Tuesday.
Mr. Banga is head of the information and technology committee at the Business Roundtable, a trade group that is set to start a push Wednesday for closer cooperation with Washington on computer security.
The effort is, in part, intended to head off a push by some policy makers for more regulation of private sector computer security. Last year, business interests helped soften and ultimately defeat a Senate cybersecurity bill that would have created a new regime of voluntary cybersecurity standards. Since then, American banks have continued to fend off harassment from Iranian hackers.
The White House is preparing an executive order that could press some companies to do more to secure their computer networks, and Congress may take another stab at passing legislation this year.
Some lawmakers and security officials say it may be necessary to impose requirements on companies to protect critical infrastructure such as the power grid and banking system.
James Lewis, who frequently advises the White House and lawmakers on cybersecurity issues, said some mandates may be necessary because the government wants companies to block intrusions before they happen, not just respond to threats after an alert.
“You can only share information on the threats you know,” Mr. Lewis said, adding that with “the most advanced threats, there is no information to share.”
Business groups have long opposed requirements, but some large companies are offering to make voluntary security improvements in exchange for information on security threats to help defend against hackers.
“The business of cybersecurity is more like intelligence and counterespionage than security where you put up physical guns and guards,” said Mr. Banga in an interview. “That’s a very poorly matched defense.”
Mr. Banga and Business Roundtable officials said they want the government to trade more information on cyber threats with private companies. That would mean more security clearances for private-sector employees, and perhaps legislation by Congress to govern the exchange of state and corporate secrets.
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