DHS Cybersecurity Strategy Highlighted in RSAC Speech by Secretary Kristi Noem
In a keynote speech delivered on April 29, 2025, at the RSA Conference (RSAC) in San Francisco, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem articulated her vision for enhancing America’s cyberdefense. This address marked a significant moment for the Trump administration, confirming its continued commitment to international collaboration in combating cybercrime. Noem stressed that “cybersecurity is national security,” emphasizing the urgent need for robust cyber defenses amid evolving threats.
During her first 100 days in office, Noem noted significant funding and headcount changes at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), a component of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). She pointed to a presidential memorandum signed by President Donald Trump to review the initiatives of former CISA head Chris Krebs. Krebs had previously garnered criticism from Trump for effectively countering claims about a stolen 2020 election. The challenges that lay ahead for Noem and her team involve reconciling these past conflicts while redirecting focus on national cybersecurity.
In her speech, Noem committed to a future where government industries collaborate more closely. She indicated that the administration would prioritize products designed to be secure from the outset, negating the need for costly security add-ons — a shift intended to protect taxpayer dollars. “We expect to see products built to be secure by design,” she stated, calling on industry partners to embrace this significant change in approach.
Recognizing the multifaceted nature of cyber threats, Noem underscored the importance of intensifying government efforts against cybercrime, particularly through partnerships with organizations like Interpol. She addressed the necessity for dismantling silos within intelligence agencies to improve responsiveness to nation-state threats. Urging cooperative action, she mentioned documented instances of cyber espionage, namely “Salt Typhoon” and “Volt Typhoon,” which are linked to Beijing-backed activities aimed at infiltrating U.S. critical infrastructure.
Noem’s confirmation as DHS Secretary in January underscored her background as the former governor of South Dakota, where she notably turned down federal cybersecurity grant funding. With several months already into her DHS tenure, she challenged criticisms directed at the Trump administration regarding the dissolution of multiple advisory groups, which included the CISA’s Technical Advisory Council. Instead, she assured the audience that new measures would cultivate a more responsive and proactive cybersecurity landscape, asserting that the cybersecurity community would play a crucial role in it.
Key to her strategy is creating public-private partnerships that can impose consequences on malicious actors. By expanding the involvement of industry stakeholders, she intends to address historical domestic cybersecurity inadequacies stemming from a lack of direction. Her statements declared a deep commitment from DHS towards cybersecurity, which she framed as a national security imperative.
In a significant move, Noem appealed for industry collaboration, encouraging cybersecurity professionals to raise concerns and share constructive feedback on the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015, which is due for reauthorization imminently. She expressed the administration’s intention to streamline current processes and hasten implementation of legislative changes to facilitate better threat intelligence coordination.
A notable part of Noem’s speech included her perspective on the previous CISA administration’s focus. She did not explicitly address the topic of elections or election security, despite acknowledging that prior administrations had designated election systems as essential components of U.S. critical infrastructure. Instead, her remarks reflected a critical view of CISA’s involvement in addressing misinformation, accusing it of straying from its original mission. This critique, she contended, allowed for the streamlined use of taxpayer resources, claiming savings of up to $10 million.
In conclusion, Noem articulated the urgency of evolving DHS’s cybersecurity principles, vowing to reshape CISA’s mission towards a more definitive focus on supporting critical infrastructure and addressing the needs of small to medium-sized businesses. She indicated federal initiatives aimed at facilitating collaboration between states and their National Guard units to effectively respond to cybersecurity incidents, emphasizing the importance of quick and efficient communication during such crises.
As the session concluded, the overarching message was clear: the DHS under Noem’s leadership is poised to make significant strides in reshaping America’s cybersecurity landscape, aiming to fortify its defenses in a digital age marked by increasing complexity and threat evolution.