CISA Deputy Director Nitin Natarajan believes that the important efforts made by the Cybersecurity Infrastructure and Security Agency (CISA) to enhance cybersecurity in critical infrastructure sectors, including healthcare, will continue under the new administration led by President Donald Trump. As Natarajan prepares to leave CISA on January 20th, he remains optimistic about the agency’s foundational work in coordinating national cybersecurity efforts.
Over the past four years, CISA has worked diligently to assist healthcare and other critical infrastructure sectors in identifying and addressing vulnerabilities, mitigating risks, and enhancing their resilience against cyber threats. Natarajan emphasized the nonpartisan nature of this work, emphasizing the agency’s mission to strengthen the nation’s critical infrastructure against both cyber and physical risks.
While acknowledging that each new administration may have its own approach and priorities, Natarajan is confident that the focus on enhancing cybersecurity in critical infrastructure will persist. He anticipates that the incoming administration will build upon the existing efforts and may introduce changes in strategy or emphasis but will ultimately continue to prioritize cybersecurity resilience.
In an interview with Information Security Media Group, Natarajan discussed the effectiveness of CISA’s pre-ransomware notification program in helping healthcare organizations and others defend against data encryption attacks. He also provided insights on how smaller healthcare organizations with limited resources can enhance their cybersecurity posture and highlighted key lessons learned from the February 2023 ransomware attack on Change Healthcare, which disrupted the nation’s healthcare ecosystem for months.
Natarajan’s extensive experience in both public and private sectors, spanning over 30 years, has equipped him with valuable insights into cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection. Prior to his role as deputy director of CISA, he held various leadership positions in consulting firms and federal government agencies, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the White House/National Security Council, and the U.S. Health and Human Services. His background as a first responder in New York, where he served as a flight paramedic for 13 years, further underscores his commitment to public service and protection.
As Natarajan transitions from his role at CISA, he leaves behind a legacy of dedicated service to enhancing cybersecurity resilience in critical infrastructure sectors. His optimism about the continuity of efforts to bolster cybersecurity under the new administration reflects a shared commitment to safeguarding the nation’s critical assets against evolving threats. Moving forward, CISA and its partners will undoubtedly continue to prioritize cybersecurity initiatives to strengthen the resilience of the nation’s critical infrastructure.