Feds Call for Focus on Supply Chain Security Amid Rise of 5G

Federal cybersecurity officials called on U.S. allies to check the security risks of commercial products and services to support the implementation of 5G across their countries, Federal News Network reported Tuesday. The growing presence of Chinese equipment, such as Huawei, across the world could put government networks at risk of interference in the future, according to Christopher Krebs, director of Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and a 2019 Wash100 Award recipient. 
 
To address 5G concerns, he said during a recent meeting with the Senate Judiciary Committee that CISA established a working group that coordinates efforts with industry, the Intelligence Community, the departments of Justice, State and Defense and other agency components. The group shares expertise in emergency preparedness communications, cybersecurity, supply chain risk management and infrastructure security. 

Robert Strayer, deputy assistant secretary for cyber and international communications policy at the State Department, said the federal government is also encouraging cooperation overseas for countries to adopt risk-based security frameworks for their future 5G communication systems.

“An important element of this risk-based security approach is a careful evaluation of hardware and software equipment vendors and their supply chains,” he said at the Senate meeting.