Leidos CEO Discusses Cybersecurity Efforts in Protecting U.S. Infrastructure

During a discussion with Breitbart News about border security and public safety, Tom Bell, the CEO of Leidos, shared insights on how his company collaborates with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and other entities, both federal and private, to safeguard critical infrastructure in the U.S. from increasing cyber threats.

Matthew Boyle, Breitbart News Washington Bureau Chief, inquired about the mission of CISA regarding cybersecurity and what the agency ought to focus on as threats to American tech infrastructure rise, particularly with regards to artificial intelligence threats, especially from China.

“A little acknowledgment here: President Trump established CISA, which was a brilliant move. He recognized early on that there was a significant cybersecurity threat to our nation’s critical infrastructure, and he set up an organization to address it,” Bell stated.

He elaborated on the organization’s purpose: “The goal was to consolidate our understanding of these threats and develop strategies to counter them.”

“The reality is, since that formation—about six years ago—the number of threats has increased,” he noted. “It’s not that the threats are more sophisticated; it’s that there are now more individuals and groups capable of acting as credible threat actors.”

“So, the situation isn’t exactly that the critical infrastructure of the U.S. is facing more refined attacks. It’s more about the sheer number of potential attackers targeting that infrastructure,” he added.

Bell pointed out the need for a national effort to strengthen CISA, emphasizing Secretary Markwayne Mullin’s focus on creating a coalition. He added, “As you know, critical infrastructure is decentralized with many private utilities. Each municipality operates its own water and wastewater systems, which are vulnerable.”

“It’s essential to elevate the safety standards across all those critical infrastructure sites so that every American can simply turn on the tap for a shower or heat their homes when needed,” he continued. “It’s straightforward, but it will require a federal approach to ensure that all these infrastructure companies can make necessary investments in credible solutions.”

Bell also discussed the importance of understanding threats: “To grasp what the threats are, you need to engage in what we refer to as full spectrum cyber. Our work at Leidos within the intelligence community provides us insights into both offensive and defensive aspects of cybersecurity.”

“Therefore, to protect critical infrastructure effectively, it’s crucial to have a deep understanding of the vulnerabilities that malicious actors may target,” he explained further.

In conclusion, Bell affirmed Leidos’ pivotal role in assisting CISA, the Department of Homeland Security, and utility companies nationwide in securing their infrastructures against cyberattacks.