The National Security Agency is capable of doing a better job at cybersecurity than companies in the private sector, the agency’s head said on Thursday, because its employees have a culture that gives them a greater sense of purpose.
“It’s the sense of serving something bigger than yourself. That’s the advantage that we have. That’s not something you can easily replicate on the outside,” said Adm. Michael Rogers, commander of U.S. Cyber Command and director of the NSA. “It’s that sense of mission, that sense of purpose, that ethos of culture and compliance, I think, that is our greatest advantage.”
His remarks came during an appearance before a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on the state of cybersecurity.
Rogers also talked about challenges facing the NSA. In addition to competing with the private sector for new recruits, he said, the NSA must combat the Islamic State’s evolving use of technology, and particularly the use of encryption.
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The Islamic State, he said, is becoming more agile in its response to cyberespionage techniques. “I’ve seen more changes in their behavior in the last two years … than any other target,” Rogers said. “We know that they have achieved a level of insight … that they quite frankly didn’t have in the past.” He added that the Islamic State is gaining access to technology that permits more secure communication, which includes the “use of apps that offer end-to-end encryption.”
Such applications allow users to communicate with each other without sending their data to third-party servers. This encryption has been the subject of increasing dialogue as companies and governments determine the extent to which consumers should be protected from government spying.
“I will not for a minute pretend that we are a perfect organization,” Rogers said. “I’m the first to acknowledge it’s a complex issue. I’m the first to acknowledge you don’t want me or an intelligence organization making those kinds of determinations.” Encryption policies, he said, should be set as a result of a broader public dialogue.
“There are no simple, easy answers,” Rogers told the committee, and added, “We are striving to ensure the American people take pride in NSA.”
