On July 10, the US Administration, via the Executive Office of the President, set out its cybersecurity priorities for the 2026 fiscal year, as consistent with the ongoing guidance from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and the National Cybersecurity Director.
The memorandum (M-24-14) highlights five pillars, each intended to help enhance the US position on cybersecurity:
- Defend Critical National Infrastructure (CNI)
- Disrupt and dismantle threat actors
- Shape market forces to drive security and resilience
- Invest in a resilient future
- Forge international partnerships to pursue shared goals
These focal points are particularly encouraging for companies such as PQShield, who are helping organizations around the world update cryptography to defend against the quantum threat. The memorandum reinforces the National Cyber Security Strategy (NCS) announced last year, and specifies a focus on PQC.
When it comes to preparing for a resilient future, the proactive position taken by the US is driving the conversation, and to do so with international partnership and collaboration is an excellent way forward. It’s great to have been part of that conversation already this year, not only with the White House, but with the likes of the European Parliament, national security agencies around the world, and other international bodies.
Following on from NSM-10, this memorandum is a key reminder to government agencies and beyond, that planning, refining, and costing the quantum roadmap to resistance is critical, and that the cybersecurity budget priorities for the years ahead need to be aligned with these pillars.
For more information on M-24-14, you can read the memorandum in full here.