Confronting Core Problems in Cybersecurity

It’s common for governors and mayors to declare a state of emergency and activate the National Guard in the aftermath of hurricanes, tornadoes, and other natural disasters. But last month, officials in Minnesota took these steps in the wake of a major cyberattack on the city of St. Paul — a testament to how disruptive these attacks have become. The attack, and the city’s efforts to contain the damage, hobbled city operations and a range of services online and in real life for citizens.

“Cyberattacks are an enormous problem, and it’s getting worse in the sense that more people and products and services rely on cyber components,” said John Manferdelli, an independent consultant and National Academy of Engineering member, in a recent interview.

Manferdelli, a mathematician and cryptographer who has held cybersecurity leadership positions at Microsoft, Intel, and Google, is now leading work at the National Academies to steer the nation’s cyber systems toward greater security and resilience. He recently chaired a committee that wrote the report Cyber Hard Problems: Focused Steps Toward a Resilient Digital Future, and currently leads the Forum on Cyber Resilience.

More here: https://www.nationalacademies.org/news/2025/08/confronting-core-problems-in-cybersecurity