Coker: Agencies flooded with cyberattacks, beset with complex problems can\u2019t always innovate | CyberScoop<\/title> <link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/harry-coker-agencies-cyberattacks-bgp-security\/\"> <meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\"> <meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\"> <meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Coker: Agencies flooded with cyberattacks, beset with complex problems can\u2019t always innovate\"> <meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"It\u2019s why his Office of the National Cyber Director is taking on challenges like BGP security, he said.\"> <meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/harry-coker-agencies-cyberattacks-bgp-security\/\"> <meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"CyberScoop\"> <meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-10-30T14:18:03+00:00\"> <meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-10-30T14:18:06+00:00\"> <meta property=\"og:image\" 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readability=\"0.82\"> <button class=\"stickybar__close js-stickybar-close\" aria-controls=\"stickybar\"> <svg class=\"icon icon--close\" width=\"21\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 21 22\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"m.822.518-.805.805L9.695 11 .017 20.678l.805.805 9.678-9.678 9.677 9.678.806-.805L11.305 11l9.678-9.677-.806-.805-9.677 9.677L.822.518Z\" fill=\"currentColor\" \/><\/svg> <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Close<\/span> <\/button> <\/section>\n<article class=\"single-article content\">\n<div class=\"single-article__container js-single-article-content\">\n<header class=\"single-article__header \" readability=\"25.321621621622\">\n<div class=\"single-article__header-content\" readability=\"30.795081967213\">\n<ul class=\"single-article__eyebrow\">\n<li class=\"single-article__category\"> <a class=\"single-article__category-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/news\/cybersecurity\/\"> <span>Cybersecurity<\/span> <\/a> <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p> It\u2019s why his Office of the National Cyber Director is taking on challenges like BGP security, he said. <\/p>\n<p>   <\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__cover-wrap\">\n<figure class=\"single-article__cover\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/coker-agencies-flooded-with-cyberattacks-beset-with-complex-problems-cant-always-innovate.jpg?resize=640%2C427&ssl=1\" class=\"single-article__cover-image wp-post-image\" alt decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/coker-agencies-flooded-with-cyberattacks-beset-with-complex-problems-cant-always-innovate-2.jpg 4096w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/coker-agencies-flooded-with-cyberattacks-beset-with-complex-problems-cant-always-innovate-2.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/coker-agencies-flooded-with-cyberattacks-beset-with-complex-problems-cant-always-innovate-2.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/coker-agencies-flooded-with-cyberattacks-beset-with-complex-problems-cant-always-innovate-2.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/coker-agencies-flooded-with-cyberattacks-beset-with-complex-problems-cant-always-innovate-2.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/coker-agencies-flooded-with-cyberattacks-beset-with-complex-problems-cant-always-innovate-2.jpg?resize=2048,1366 2048w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/coker-agencies-flooded-with-cyberattacks-beset-with-complex-problems-cant-always-innovate-2.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/coker-agencies-flooded-with-cyberattacks-beset-with-complex-problems-cant-always-innovate-2.jpg?resize=252,168 252w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/coker-agencies-flooded-with-cyberattacks-beset-with-complex-problems-cant-always-innovate-2.jpg?resize=505,337 505w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/coker-agencies-flooded-with-cyberattacks-beset-with-complex-problems-cant-always-innovate-2.jpg?resize=1012,675 1012w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/coker-agencies-flooded-with-cyberattacks-beset-with-complex-problems-cant-always-innovate-2.jpg?resize=1264,843 1264w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1012px) 100vw, 1012px\"><figcaption> National Cyber Director Harry Coker Jr., speaks at CyberTalks in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 30, 2024. (Scoop News Group photo) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"single-article__content\">\n<div class=\"single-article__content-inner has-drop-cap\"> <html readability=\"29.567219152855\"><body readability=\"63.385093167702\"><\/p>\n<p>A deluge of cyberattacks on federal agencies, and the complexity of the challenges they face, makes it hard for them to advance new approaches to defending their networks, National Cyber Director Harry Coker Jr. said Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking at CyberTalks, hosted by CyberScoop, Coker said that\u2019s why his White House office focuses on strategy and policy to tackle complex problems like <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/fcc-vote-on-tap-for-rules-to-secure-fundamental-component-of-the-internet\/\">secure internet routing<\/a>, which is both increasingly vulnerable and a fundamental component of basic interactions on the web.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUnfortunately, most of our departments and agencies are dealing with day-to-day operational attacks,\u201d Coker said. \u201cOr in some cases, these entities have shied away from developing or proposing solutions because of the perceived degree of difficulty.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) is one of the \u201cfoundational protocols\u201d that lets over 70,000 independent networks operate together as the internet and allow IP addresses to exchange routing information to reach each other across the globe, he said. <\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--inline_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>But attackers can reroute \u2014 or hijack \u2014 internet traffic, exploiting a BGP system that is built on trust, Coker said. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cMore recently we have seen sophisticated attacks, BGP hijacks, increase,\u201d he said. \u201cRecent incidents have resulted in the loss of millions of dollars.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/white-house-publishes-latest-plan-to-protect-a-key-component-of-the-internet\/\">A roadmap<\/a> produced by Coker\u2019s office last month promoted the adoption of Resource Public Key Infrastructure (RPKI), which can ensure BGP routing information is authentic, but there\u2019s a necessary registration process.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAlthough that technology has existed for a dozen years, it was only recently that a bare majority of global internet addresses were appropriately registered in RPKI to allow internet service providers to filter all surrounding advertisements and prevent attacks to hijack,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, federal agencies have been running behind on that process, Coker said. But that\u2019s beginning to change, he added.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--inline_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cBy the end of this year, we expect over 60% of the federal IP space to be covered by registered service agreements, paving the way to establish route origin authorizations for federal networks,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>A group of researchers recently said <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theregister.com\/2024\/10\/02\/rpki_immaturity_study\/\">RPKI has vulnerabilities<\/a> of its own.<\/p>\n<p><\/body> <\/p>\n<footer class=\"single-article__footer\">\n<div class=\"author-card\" readability=\"7.7216117216117\">\n<div class=\"author-card__avatar\">\n<figure class=\"author-card__image-wrap\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"author-card__image\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/coker-agencies-flooded-with-cyberattacks-beset-with-complex-problems-cant-always-innovate-1.jpg?w=640&ssl=1\" alt=\"Tim Starks\"> <\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-card__details\" readability=\"10.901098901099\">\n<h4 class=\"author-card__name\">Written by Tim Starks<\/h4>\n<p> Tim Starks is senior reporter at CyberScoop. His previous stops include working at The Washington Post, POLITICO and Congressional Quarterly. An Evansville, Ind. native, he’s covered cybersecurity since 2003. Email Tim here: <a href=\"mailto:tim.starks@cyberscoop.com\">tim.starks@cyberscoop.com<\/a>. <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__tags-container\">\n<h4 class=\"single-article__tags-title\">In This Story<\/h4>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/footer>\n<p> <\/html><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__ads js-single-article-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-5 ad--rightrail_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-4 ad--rightrail_2 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-3 ad--rightrail_3 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"popular-stories popular-stories--single-post\">\n<div 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Scoop","author_link":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/author\/cyberscoop\/"},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/bgp\/\" rel=\"category tag\">bgp<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/bgp-hijack\/\" rel=\"category tag\">BGP hijack<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/bgp-hijacking\/\" rel=\"category tag\">BGP hijacking<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/border-gateway-protocol\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Border Gateway Protocol<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/cybersecurity\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Cybersecurity<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/federal-it\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Federal IT<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/harry-coker\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Harry Coker<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/national-cyber-director\/\" rel=\"category 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{"id":5999,"date":"2024-10-30T09:18:03","date_gmt":"2024-10-30T14:18:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/?p=82363"},"modified":"2024-10-30T09:18:03","modified_gmt":"2024-10-30T14:18:03","slug":"coker-agencies-flooded-with-cyberattacks-beset-with-complex-problems-cant-always-innovate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/2024\/10\/30\/coker-agencies-flooded-with-cyberattacks-beset-with-complex-problems-cant-always-innovate\/","title":{"rendered":"Coker: Agencies flooded with cyberattacks, beset with complex problems can\u2019t always innovate"},"content":{"rendered":"