GAO Report Highlights Conflicts in Federal Cyber Regulations for Critical Infrastructure

• •GAO report reveals conflicts in federal cybersecurity regulations.
• •Energy, financial services, and healthcare sectors report challenges in compliance.
• •Participants suggest harmonization opportunities for incident reporting.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) published a report identifying significant duplication and conflicts among federal cybersecurity regulations affecting critical infrastructure sectors, including energy, financial services, and healthcare. Industry representatives reported challenges in meeting multiple reporting requirements while addressing cyber threats. They highlighted conflicts with the Department of Homeland Security's proposed cyber incident reporting rule and the Securities and Exchange Commission's cybersecurity disclosure rules. Although some progress has been made in harmonizing regulations, participants noted that half felt the advancements were limited. The report suggests opportunities for further harmonization, such as establishing consistent definitions for incident-reporting timeframes and designating a lead agency for incident reports. This is the third report in a series examining federal cybersecurity regulation harmonization efforts.