The need for the private and public sector to strengthen cybersecurity

The Islamic State terrorist organization does not appear to have gained offensive capabilities to launch a cyber attack, but it is something they aspire to, according to former high ranking officials in the US intelligence community.

“I’ve been surprised that it hasn’t happened yet,” former US Director of both the NSA and CIA Michael Hayden stated at a Thursday conference on US cybersecurity. Questioning the lack of demonstrated IS cyber capabilities, Hayden added, “It would seem to be an easy approach. The cost of entry is low, the ability to disrupt is high, the impact of disruption is high.”

Hayden stated that while IS has been slow to obtain offensive cyber capabilities, “they’re going to get there.”

Former House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers said at the Thursday conference that in the recent period, he observed al-Qaeda-like groups express the intent to develop destructive cyber capabilities.

Former US Officials Claim IS Aspires to 

Destructive Cyber-Capabilities